Stay ConnectedUnlock the world of track & field coaching with The Gill Connections Podcast! Host Mike Cunningham brings you inspiring stories, real conversations, and coaching insights from leaders at every level. Discover a new coach’s interview every Monday. Plus, don’t miss the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts with our NEW Gill1918 Project episodes Tuesday-Sunday — short, powerful lessons from top coaches to help you grow on and off the track.
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Originally published March 15h, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!
We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!
In this special solo episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, host Mike Cunningham shifts gears to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the often-unsung heroes of track and field: the coaches. Join Mike as he pays tribute to the incredible coaches who guided their athletes to Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. From sprints to jumps, throws to distance events, this episode is dedicated to honoring the individuals behind the scenes who helped shape Olympic dreams into reality. Tune in for a heartfelt celebration of servant leadership, dedication, and the coaching excellence that fuels the world’s greatest athletes.
Whether you're a coach, athlete, or fan of the sport, this episode is a reminder of the pivotal role coaches play in every Olympic performance.
🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.
📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍
Originally published March 20, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!
We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!
In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we dive deep into the incredible journey of Brett Halter, head coach of the University of Missouri Track & Field team 🐯. From his unexpected start in coaching—after being asked by former Missouri head coach Dr. Rick McGuire, "You want to be a throws coach?"—to leading a powerhouse program, Halter's story is filled with insights and surprises.
Discover how a distance runner became a world-class throws coach, hear his thoughts on the SEC's ever-evolving challenges, and learn about his approach to building not just athletes, but leaders. We also explore some behind-the-scenes moments with standout athletes like Christian Cantwell and Karissa Schweitzer, and discuss the future of Missouri's track and field program with its new world-class facilities.
Coach Halter shares wisdom on coaching philosophy, program development, and the values that drive him and his team toward success. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or track and field enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiring stories. 🏃♂️💥
🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.
📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍
Originally published February 4th, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!
We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!
🎙️ "Right on the Edge of Disaster" with Mike Schofield, Olympic Throws Coach
In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections podcast, we travel to New Zealand to chat with Mike Schofield, the man behind Maddison-Lee Wesche’s journey to a silver medal in shot put at the Paris 2024 Olympics 🥈. Mike shares his unique coaching philosophy, forged from his non-traditional path into athletics after a start in golf. He opens up about the lessons learned in performance development, and how curiosity and pushing boundaries shape his coaching style.
Mike talks about the importance of being comfortable with failure in the pursuit of excellence, offering insight through his powerful quote: "Right on the edge of disaster is where exceptional happens." 🏅
Join us as we explore his journey from weightlifting and strength coaching to guiding one of the world’s top athletes in track and field! 🌍 #ThrowsCoach #TrackAndField #OlympicJourney #CoachingWisdom
🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.
📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍
Originally published February 3rd, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!
We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!
🎙️ Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone with Coach Cale Korbelik 🦅🎧
In this week’s episode, we welcome Cale Korbelik, head coach of the University of Mary track and field team! 🏃♂️🏃♀️ From leading a massive roster of over 100 athletes to bringing in a whopping 48 newcomers this season, Cale shares his insights on managing a dynamic team, fostering leadership, and cultivating a winning culture at one of the top programs in the country. 🌟
We also dive into Cale’s personal journey — from his graduate assistant days to landing his first full-time coaching job. He reflects on some powerful advice from his mentor, Toby Schwarz (head coach at Whitworth University):
"If you stay here, you won’t get out of your comfort zone." 🧠🔥
Discover how Cale has embraced stepping outside of that comfort zone, navigating the challenges of building a successful program, and continuously growing both as a coach and leader. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or track and field enthusiast, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom! 💡
Tune in now for a deep dive into the world of collegiate coaching, the importance of mentorship, and how staying out of the comfort zone is the key to success! 📈🔥
🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.
📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍
🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts! #TrackAndField #CoachingJourney #UniversityOfMary #CoachKorbelik #StepOutOfYourComfortZone
Originally published January 31st, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!
We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!
🎙️ Episode 277: Mastering the Path to Success with Cornell’s Adrian Durant 🎙️
In this powerful episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Adrian Durant, Head Coach of Cornell University’s men’s track and field team. 🌟 Adrian shares his inspiring journey from the Virgin Islands to the Ivy League, breaking down how he has mastered the art of coaching and leadership at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 📚✨
Adrian discusses his career, which began with a personal mission at 12 years old to make the Olympics. Along the way, he discovered a passion for coaching that led him to navigate a path filled with challenges and triumphs. From walking on at the University of South Carolina to becoming a head coach in just three years, Adrian’s story is packed with lessons on resilience, growth, and leadership.
One standout moment is when Adrian reflects on his development as a coach: "I built competence and that built confidence." 💪🏾 This episode is full of wisdom for both aspiring coaches and athletes alike.
You’ll hear about the unique dynamics of coaching in the Ivy League, the value of humility and confrontation in leadership, and the importance of building a supportive team culture. 🏅 Plus, you won’t want to miss Adrian’s plans for Cornell’s final indoor Heps at Barton Hall – an event that promises to be legendary! 🔥
Join us as we dive deep into Adrian Durant’s world and learn what it truly takes to build a winning team, on and off the track. 🎧🌍
🎧 Tune in now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube! Don’t forget to check out Adrian’s own podcast, The Home Stretch, for more golden insights from the world of elite track and field. 🌟
🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.
📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍
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