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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Associate Head Coach Kebba Tolbert joins us in today's episode. We pick up where we left off in episode 5. If you haven't listened to that one lately, go listen now then come back here. We pick up Kebba's journey in coaching track and field at Syracuse, his first DI job. He takes us through his first head coaching job at Portland State, what he learned during his time at UTEP, and now the challenges and success he has at Harvard University. We also talk about society today in the wake of racial injustice, protest, and change. We hope a conversation like this will provide value to you, your program, and your network. We can't say thank you enough to Kebba for trusting us to have a meaningful conversation like we did.
The life of a high school track coach is much different than one of a college track coach. And then sometimes their are a lot of similarities. Today we learn of Ryan's journey from athlete to teacher to coach. The trials and tribulations have a lot to teach us about perseverance and passion. Lots of lessons on how to teach kids today whether it's history or sprinting, along with why to teach kids. Ryan did a great job of showing why he coaches and the real love of kids that drives him on a daily basis. He is also the author of the Sprinters Compendium. We learn of how the idea started to write a book and how it came to fruition. At the end, I put Ryan on the spot to perform and you will not want to miss it. I guarantee it!
Happy Fourth of July, we've got your fireworks today! Help me welcome Michael Bergmann to the podcast. Michael has had many roles in track and field including a 30 year career at Nike. Today we focus on his position as President of Portland Track. We discuss what Portland Track does, the Tracklandia 'The Hunt' event on YouTube, and unveil a meet that will debut on YouTube tomorrow July 5th. Michael is a true maker of positive impacts on our sport, we are proud to introduce you to him today on the podcast.
In this episode of Athletics LLC, we welcome Christian Taylor! The HUMBLE Olympic triple jumper joins the guys for some conversation about Tokyo 2021, the imbalance that exists in the horizontal jumps and his group, Athletics Association. After, the guys reveal their opinions on the KING of the 100m collegiate and professional, all time. Tune in to see what else the gang is bantering over this week!
Rodney's journey is just beginning and you'll find out in today's episode how much he's accomplished in such a short amount of time. We had a blast getting to know his journey as an athlete, the passion for coaching he has, as well as the next chapter in career. ENJOY!
When the idea the University of Connecticut may drop men's track and field, alumni Andrew Dubs (current throws coach at Virginia Tech) sprang into action with many other alums to do everything in their power to not let it happen. It was announced today the University is dropping men's cross country, but keeping the indoor and outdoor programs. Today, hear directly from one of the leaders of the movement to save UCONN Track and Field as he tells us the story of action they took. The goal is to help guide you in a blueprint of ways to make your program stronger than ever!
Robert could be considered Mr. Junior College Track Coach. Having academically attending a junior college, starting his coaching profession at a junior college, and now as a long time assistant turned head coach of Coffeyville Community College, Robert has a lot of passion, knowledge, and experience on this level. And he's not going anywhere!
Imagine being in charge of an entire college program at the age of 27. Imagine if that program was your alma mater and you're taken over for your college coach who's been there for 20+ years. That's what Cale stepped into at Western Carolina. We talk through the pressures, both expected an unexpected, of taking the reigns of his alma mater at such a young age in today's episode. We then have a lot of fun talking about the throws in general and how to coach them. Near the end we explore everyone's favorite subject...LetsRun.com.
Join us this week to hear some conversation regarding what is going on in the world of the NCAA and the world we live in. The guys also dabbled a little in Olympics 2021 talk! Listen in to hear who are the anticipated head to head matches are. The guys weigh in on who they think the G.O.A.T 100m queen is from the collegiate ranks as well as the pros. Who do you think they left off the lists?!
Welcome back to the podcast Marissa Chew the organizer/administrator for the Facebook group Coaches Collab. We spend time with Marissa in episode 20 discussing the group and wanted to have her back to learn how it's grown. We also take some time to learn more about Marissa the coach and how she became involved in track and field and the profession of coaching.
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