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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Today we talk with Michael Roberts of Northwood University. Michael brings a unique perspective to coaching having been coached by giants in our industry. Mike Holman coached Michael at Lawrence Central HS in Indianapolis and John McNichols of Indiana State was his collegiate coach. We get to learn of Michael's passion for continual learning and his curiosity to learn multiple disciplines outside of track and field. Our host even gets Michael to play a bit of guitar for us in his favored style of neo-soul.
Ohweeeee! Was this a week!? Lucious, Lamar and Clyde sit down this week for the first time since the announcement of the dropping of the Clemson Men's XC & TF teams. What "missing pieces" do the gents identify in the abrupt actions of the leadership at Clemson. After we get past that beast, we address another lingering topic...coaches' education. What is missing and how can we evolve it to be more than it is (or isn't) currently? Lastly, we get back to the Tokyo medal predictions and highlight the Women's 100mH! Can you identify what would be missing in this final race? Stay for Lamar on the hot seat in rapid fire and learn more about the personal side of each of us as we reveal our heart beat props. Thanks for your patience this week (and many others) as I, Big League, mismanaged my time and didn't get the episode out on time. I promise you won't stay mad at me for too long! ;)
Welcome to our first international coach, Kurt Downs coaches the Border City Athletics Club in Windsor, Canada. Kurt sits down with us and discusses why he started his track club, the advantages and disadvantages of coaching a club of athletes as young as third grade up to post collegiate elite level athletes. We get to discuss Canadian 800m national record holder Brandon McBride and the challenges in training preferences between athlete and coach. Kurt also talks to us about his athletic background and how it led him eventually to a successful track coaching career.
This episode we rebroadcast episode 18 of the Meeting of the Unknowing Minds podcast hosted by Matt Esche of UAB. Matt hosts a panel of track coaches including Tom Sage (VCU), Mike Erb (Indiana U), Scott Williamson (Nevada-Reno) and Darren Flowers (UT-RGV) to discuss pertinent topics in the world of track and field on a weekly basis. This episode their guest is Mike Cunningham, host of the Gill Athletics Connections podcast.
Mike and the panel discuss his background as a track coach and how he came to Gill Athletics, as well as hot topics for track and field including dropping programs, coaches' life outside of track, and the leadership of a coach.
Please keep in mind, this episode of Athletics LLC was recorded BEFORE the news of Clemson's Men's XC & TF teams being cut.
Looking deep into what these certain situations actually present themselves as...Lucious, Lamar and Clyde start the conversation with the hot topic of NFL "speed". Should those players be at US Trials and allowed to compete? Who do you think you agree with? Staying on the topic of speed, Christian Coleman, what does his absence in the Men's 100m race in 2021 do? Is the race just as attractive to watch without him in it? Deviating from the limelight a bit, let's talk about the path to the NCAA championships outdoor. Does our regional system benefit the "little guys" or the traditional "powerhouse teams" more? And lastly, we round out the conversation with the elephant in the room...Whereabouts testing. Find out how Lucious, Lamar and Clyde feel about it and where they stand on its implementation. Sit back, put your listening ears on and find out what side of the fence you sit on and who is next to you! #athletics LLC....Happy Friday!
Proud to have an extremely successful coach on this week's episode in Ron Grigg, head coach of Jacksonville University. Ron talks with us today about starting out as a DIII athlete and how he moved through the coaching ranks from high school, Coppin St, Wheaton and now Jacksonville University. You'll enjoy Ron's unique aspect with track and field and how he qualified to run at the Penn Relays after an average at best collegiate career. This is actually Ron's second stop at Jacksonville University, as he spent nearly two years at Kansas State. We get to discuss why he went to the Big 12 to coach and came back to the 'smaller school' of JU. Lots of great topics in today's podcast as we discuss coaching education, coaching mentors, Speed Dynamics, and a whole lot more.
Off the track, before and after a coach has the stopwatch, whistle and notebook in their possession, how should you be managing yourself? What are things that one needs to be cognizant of? First Lucious, Lamar and Clyde speak on how to manage the successes and failures in the athlete and coach relationship. In mention of those aspects, the guys go into their mulligans of their coaching careers and what they would do differently now, in hindsight. This provides us with a great transition into, what is the greatest obstacle for a collegiate athlete when it comes to having a GREAT career? Do you think you know what is hindering the athletes that you might work with? Lastly, do you think that Lucious, Lamar and Clyde agree on the use of wickets (mini-hurdles, cones) as a practice tool? After we get Clyde in the hot seat (and does it get hot for Clyde!) we end by lifting up those special someone's who have helped us along the way. Our heart beat props won't tear you up this week ;) Thank you for tuning in and happy clicking!
In a professional environment where coaching tenure is decreasing, Brian Bedard is the exception. As a Colorado State alum and now having served over 30 years as an assistant and head coach, Brian has found 'home' in Ft. Collins. Today we discuss his coaching background leading to his time at Colorado State, how he took Olympian Casey Malone from a skinny 175' high school discus thrower to the World Junior Champ, and his coaching theme of being Athlete Focused. We also talk about the 30+ years at one institution and the benefits of making this career defining decision.
Do you know what you need to do to set yourself (or your athletes) up for success? Let's start with the races, how important is setting up the start? Do you agree with Lucious, Lamar and Clyde? Going along with races, when then dig deeper as to how often should one race? How much comp does an athlete need to see? Speaking of competitions, when will we see the effects of the COVID shutdown? Will it be this year? Do you agree with Lucious, Lamar or Clyde about who will medal in the Women's 200 in Tokyo? Very interesting perspectives on this one! (Like they don't ever say something that makes one think differently) Who thinks that Lamar goes unscathed in #rapidfire this week? Does Big League Chew stump Lamar? Guess you'll have to click and find out! See y'all in a few clicks!
This episode we get to meet Dillard University head coach Nile Legania. Nile is born and raised in New Orleans who made a long career as a local high school and summer track club coach. We learn why he moved to the collegiate level and why the time was right. You'll enjoy learning about Nile's athletic background winning a state championship in Louisiana High School track and playing football at Delta State University in Mississippi.
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