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.
Powered by Gill Athletics — Supporting Coaches Since 1918.
I'm throwing a birthday party for myself and YOU'RE INVITED! My friends at Glazier Clinics are hosting a FREE Virtual Track and Field Clinic with some of the best coaches around (BYU, TCU, Under Armour, and more!) on July 24 and 25 and I want you to be there.
Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04mV2Pd0
Share it with a friend!
To help you see the quality of these presentations, and to celebrate the upcoming July clinic, here is the first part of one of the presentations from December. If you want to watch the full presentation go to Glazier Drive: https://production.glazierdrive.com/library
DeeDee is not only a 3-time Olympian, she's also an Executive Pastry Chef at Taste of Gold Bakery, a global keynote motivational speaker, and the author of the inspirational book I Can. I Must. I Will!. DeeDee is truly an expert on goal-setting and goal-getting! Great for coaches and athletes, this episode was originally released in July, 2025.
If you feel inspired to share on a topic near to your heart, contact David Mitchell to learn more.
Joanna Hayes is one of the most accomplished names in track & field—but this conversation goes somewhere different.
Instead of reliving Olympic gold memories, we rewind to where it all began… and fast-forward to how she became the head coach at UCLA Bruins.
From discovering track at just nine years old, to not even touching hurdles until her junior year of high school, to navigating the identity shift from elite athlete to coach—this episode is about growth, perspective, and purpose.
Along the way, Joanna shares the real transition moments most people never hear about.
🔥 In this episode, we cover:🧒 How track and field first entered her life—and why it stuck🏃♀️ The late switch to hurdles that changed everything🎯 Being a coach’s dream athlete—and how that shaped her coaching style🔄 The mental shift from “it’s about me” to “it’s about them”💥 Early coaching mistakes—and what finally made things click🧠 Learning under Caryl Smith Gilbert (Gill podcast guest #272) and developing her own philosophy🎓 Taking over as head coach at UCLA and what that responsibility really feels like
💬 “I didn’t question anything as an athlete—I just did the work. Coaching taught me how to think differently… because now it’s not about me anymore.” -Joanna Hayes
This is a rare look at one of the sport’s elite minds—not as an Olympian, but as a coach, mentor, and leader shaping the next generation.
👉Dive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coachinglegends such as BooSchexnayder and Dan Pfaff, DiljeetTaylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find uson Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!
🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Projectepisode, which airsTuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections PodcastNetwork.
📲 Stay Connected:
Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com,or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍
I'm throwing a birthday party for myself and YOU'RE INVITED! My friends at Glazier Clinics are hosting a FREE Virtual Track and Field Clinic with some of the best coaches around (BYU, TCU, Under Armour, and more!) on July 24 and 25 and I want you to be there.
Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04mV2Pd0Share it with a friend!
To help you see the quality of these presentations, and to celebrate the upcoming July clinic, here is the first part of one of the presentations from December. If you want to watch the full presentation go to Glazier Drive: https://production.glazierdrive.com/library
I'm throwing a birthday party for myself and YOU'RE INVITED! My friends at Glazier Clinics are hosting a FREE Virtual Track and Field Clinic with some of the best coaches around (BYU, TCU, Under Armour, and more!) on July 24 and 25 and I want you to be there.
Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04mV2Pd0Share it with a friend!
To help you see the quality of these presentations, and to celebrate the upcoming July clinic, here is the first part of one of the presentations from December. If you want to watch the full presentation go to Glazier Drive: https://production.glazierdrive.com/library
This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!
This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!
This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!
Micheal "Coach Welly" Wellington has coached hurdlers of all ages and skill levels from youth beginners to elite athletes. Over the past 25 years, he has refined his coaching system into what he calls Foundational Hurdling which includes the Four Components of Good Hurdling he shares with us here. He's also co-owner of Two8 Bands. Learn about his ongoing work and his July 18-19, 2026 Hurdle Hero camp HERE, find him on IG & YouTube (CoachWelly), or reach out via EMAIL with questions.
If you have a topic you'd love to share, contact David Mitchell to learn more.
Kevin Donner’s journey into coaching wasn’t planned—it was discovered.
From getting cut from baseball and stumbling into track, to turning down “real jobs” for a $1,000 stipend, to eventually leading Bucknell University for over two decades… this episode is a masterclass in passion, persistence, and program building.
Kevin walks through the pivotal moments that shaped his career—moments where he bet on coaching when logic said otherwise—and how those decisions ultimately led him to one of the most respected programs in the country.
Along the way, you’ll hear how culture is built from the ground up, what it really takes to sustain success, and why sometimes the best path is the one that makes the least sense on paper.
🔑 In this episode:🏃♂️ How getting cut from baseball led to a lifelong career in track & field💼 Turning down stable jobs for a $1,000 coaching opportunity🧠 Learning to coach multiple events with zero prior expertise🔧 Building programs from scratch at multiple stops🔥 Developing a “blue-collar misfit” culture that wins championships🏆 Taking over a legendary program and making it his own
👉Dive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coachinglegends such as BooSchexnayder and Dan Pfaff, DiljeetTaylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find uson Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!
🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Projectepisode, which airsTuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections PodcastNetwork.
📲 Stay Connected:
Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com,or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
