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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In our second Mega-Pod installment we take all three parts of our well-received series with Coach Harry Marra, add the bonus episode with Ashton Eaton, and package them together for your listening pleasure. Mega-Pod Volume 2 puts the original episodes in a different order; we start with episodes #25 and #27 to hear Marra's entire coaching journey, then we throw in Ashton's version of his time with Marra. We end with the most important episode, #26 where Marra gives his Four Principles To Fully Develop the Art of Coaching (PKTC).
On a road trip and need all the entertainment and growth you can handle in one Mega Podcast? Well this is the one for you!
Well, well, well...we've got some items developing on the show tonight! Let's put our toe in the water by talking about the adjustment to the NCAA indoor championships schedule. What does it ultimately do to the landscape of team championships? Now that we are knee deep in the water, let's talk about the youth athletes declaring pro status before college. What are the benefits or deficits of this life changing decision? And we're in! Fully submerged in the water, we throw out the indoor circuit that the American Track League (ATL) has put together and got slots for on ESPN. CANNON BALL!!! We finish out the conversation tonight talking about the happenings in the different levels of football this week. Sir Lucious wraps up the conversation in the hot seat in Rapid Fire and we return to giving out our Heart Beat Props. Thank you for joining us for another night of great conversation!
Dana joins us today to talk about her journey in the sport of track and field and her career as a collegiate coach. After a promising Olympic career in the long jump was cut short by injury, several coaching mentors in her life gave her opportunities to coach. With stops at Middle Tennessee State University, University of South Carolina, Tulane University and more Dana has cultivated a career of winning at each stop. As a multi-time conference championship coach, Dana shares with us her philosophy of culture as a coach of her athletes and as a manager of her coaching staff.
Enjoy today's episode as we learn the roles of mentors, self-confidence, and determination to succeed have had in Dana Boone's career.
Here we are again for another conversation! This episode, Lucious, Lamar, and Clyde discuss all things CHAMPIONSHIPS. What do championship teams all have in common? The guys all weigh in on what they have experienced to be characteristics of most championship teams. Then we make a hard left and discuss the upcoming college football championship game as well as the NFL playoffs! All outcomes are noted and ready to be battle-tested in the coming weeks. Sit back and enjoy the ride y'all!
Today we explore the journey of a DIII athlete and coach who earned his position on a Big Ten coaching staff. Mike Erb ran track at Alleghany (Pa.) College and wound up the head coach of DIII University of Redlands (Ca.). After becoming the volunteer coach at Marquette University he applied and earned an assistant coaching position at the University of Illinois. Mike's story is one of not being a great athlete, not being connected within the Power 5 coaching network, and not even personally knowing the hiring head coach.
Today we explore putting yourself out there, taking risks, and perfecting your craft to earn coaching positions among the top of the collegiate coaching ranks. Enjoy!
High school and (former) collegiate indoor 200m record holder and Olympian Bianca Knight joins us for a special announcement. Tomorrow she unveils a new app (BK Track Stars) designed to help coaches around the country coach better, athletes to take ownership of their training results, and parents to get and stay involved with their child's track and field training.
Hear directly from Bianca as she describes her BKF Gives Track Foundation and her 'WHY' behind the app. Download starting tomorrow Feb 20, 2021 from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store the BK Track Stars app for free!
Bianca can be found online at the following places:
@bkfgives - Twitter, IG
The Bianca Knight Foundation - Facebook
@bktrackstars - IG, Twitter, tiktok
BK TrackStars - Facebook
@MsBiancaAK - Twitter
Bianca Knight - Facebook
The BKF GIVES MISSION is to promote excellence in youth track and field sports through clinics, competition meets and financial grants, while encouraging student athletes to give back to their communities.
Happy New Year to everyone! Sit back and watch/listen to Lucious, Lamar and Clyde Talk about which of the training groups can be called THE GOAT of professional training groups. Next, what is the NCAA indoor championships going to look like if programs are going to have different freedoms/restrictions imparted on them. Do you agree or disagree with their perspectives? Lastly, everyone reflects on what their best or favorite LLC moment of 2020. Do you remember any of them? We hope you all had a good day/night closing out 2020 and cheers to 2021!
Bryan has been a teammate of ours at Gill Athletics for over 20 years having served in the sales department, R&D department and now as a member of our Field Service department. He brings decades worth of experience as a high school and collegiate pole vaulter, a Marine who still vaulted, and as a college coach, vault club owner, and father of two state champion high school vaulters. We get to learn of his time as a Marine and participating in track meets with other military branches, how he got into coaching track and field, some of his mentors along the way, and how he handled his two boys getting into the sport of pole vault. ENJOY!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you today! We are excited to share some time with you. You're going to notice our #UGLYSWEATERS today, we are going to be putting up voting posts on the different social media platforms for you to vote on. Make sure you cast your vote :) First we talk about the CFP; how do Lucious, Lamar and Clyde feel about who made the playoffs and who they predict to win!? Then they dive straight into a "what happened to?????" of the double eventers: 100/LJ, SP/DT, combo hurdlers, etc. Why are there not as many competitors who do such coupled events? Lastly, the guys way left field and give us their medal predictions for the Men's Shot Put. GREAT conversation about this, well entertaining at that ;) Then wait for it...there's a surprise for rapid fire! What could it be?! Thank you all for tuning in today. We hope you are enjoying your day and able to witness all the smiles you can.
Journey Beyond the Track: A Candid Conversation with Karen Dennis of The Ohio State University
Join host Mike Cunningham on the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast for a deeply insightful episode featuring the esteemed Karen Dennis, the driving force behind the track and field program at The Ohio State University. This episode is a treasure trove for track and field fans, offering a rare glimpse into the life, philosophy, and experiences of a coach who has made an indelible mark on the sport.
Karen Dennis's journey, from the streets of Detroit to the prestigious halls of The Ohio State University, is a testament to passion, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Throughout the episode, Karen delves into her early days in Detroit, her transition into coaching, and the challenges and rewards that come with leading a top-tier athletic program.
In a candid moment, Karen reflects on her roots and the importance of authenticity and connection in her coaching approach. She shares, "I'm from Detroit. Come up through the 60s. There's not a whole lot of BS that people can bring me... If I feel like somebody is not being authentic, then I don't have a lot of time. I will find something else to do real quickly or change the subject right away."
Another poignant moment in the conversation arises when Karen speaks about the importance of sharing and collaboration in the coaching community. She emphasizes, "If my journey can be of help to anybody, I'm here... Sharing people's journeys with each other is important. I like what you're doing. I appreciate what you're doing, and I think that the more we do this, the better off we will all be in getting along."
This episode is not just about the technicalities of coaching; it's a deep dive into the human aspect of the sport, the individual journeys of coaches, and the importance of authenticity, connection, and continuous learning. Whether you're a seasoned track and field fan or new to the sport, Karen Dennis's experiences, wisdom, and passion will captivate and inspire you.
Tune in to this heartfelt conversation and let Karen's journey resonate with your own experiences and aspirations.
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