The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

It's about that time of year...backpacks are cleared out, folders are still crisp, and student-athletes are back in the rotation.  It's the start of the school year!  We are going to get into some musts for the tiles as they return to the regularly scheduled programs.  Also, some recent results and highlights of the Spring/Summer comp season.  Sit back and see you in a few! Wan...

Join us this episode as we take a refreshing look into a 20+ year career at the same university that also happens to be their alma mater. Nate Fanger sits down and talks about how he got to Kent State from Montana, what led him to stay as an assistant coach, and how things might be different after recently being named the Director of Track and Field.  We discuss unique topics including the 40...

Cue the Puff song: "Been around the World"   The meets, competitors, and the tiles have been on the MOVE and this week the tiles unload what has been happening EVERYWHERE.  There's noise being made by many...and we're here to unpack some of those in conversation.    Hope you all are having a great week! Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track equipme...

We're excited for you to listen to this week's guest as Marlon brings the VALUE in today's episode. As the head coach of Wayne State College in Nebraska for over 20 years, he opens up authentically and shares with us his developmental process. We get an inside look at the importance of Coaches Education on his on the field part of the job, as well as the side of college coaching we don't discuss a...

Well with the addition of "Mayor Smith" this week, the tiles turn up the dial on the brain dump and give some insight on longevity, and a "brief" conversation on the 4x4 from some different angles.    Sir Lucious plays some WOULD YOU RATHER...tune in and see what he chooses! Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track equipment needs? Connect with us: Host Mike Cunning...

What would lead a successful DI coach to say, "I wish I had switched to D3 sooner."?  Learn the journey of Coach Sprecher from the time he was a GA at Baylor during the Michael Johnson era to having his alma mater drop his men's program while he was the head coach. With multiple highs including Team USA athletes, conference championship teams, and high GPAs, Sprecher's journey is not without...

Well, we unsuccessfully predicted the World Championships...at this point, we are proud to be so wrong!  World championships owes us NOTHING!  Found on the Twitter-verse, the tiles respond to a series of questions regarding the championships overall...which and who do you agree with?  What did we forget?  Let us know! Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track eq...

We sit down with Gregg as he starts a brand new indoor/outdoor men's and women's track and field program at Bridgeport. We have a really hard conversation centered around bitterness, entitlement, and self-awareness.  This week's episode will bring you more value than you can imagine and is guaranteed to help you personally and professionally. Thank you to Coach Schmidt for being so transparen...

Half way thru World Championships and there are so many events to highlight already!  Tune in to hear what the panel was intrigued by... Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track equipment needs? Connect with us: Host Mike Cunningham on Twitter: @mikecunningham Email: sales@gillathletics.com Phone: 800-637-3090 Twitter: @GillAthletics Instagram: @GillAthletics1918 Facebook: fa...

Kyle joins us today to discuss his varied young coaching path including being a D2 athlete, a D3 assistant coach, and now the head coach of NAIA Saint Francis. We learn the importance of being called 'coach' and how that has affected his professional and personal life. Coaching Education shows up once again as a catalyst for helping him become a better coach, especially in such a new event as the...

The time has come for the tiles to pick who they think will prevail in the chosen events for the WC taking place in Eugene.  You will definitely be surprised with the names said and how they are guessed to finish.  Tune in! Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track equipment needs? Connect with us: Host Mike Cunningham on Twitter: @mikecunningham Email: sales@gillathletic...

Today's guest gives us an inside look at an alum coaching at their alma mater as Kevin ran for Saint Vincent and now oversees the entire track and cross country program. We learn of great mentors such as Dr. Herr and Coach Snyder, as well as dive deep into hiring a new assistant coach. Kevin gives us lots of insight into his process of hiring for the first time with great information that can help...

Happy LLC Day!  There are always different sides to everything.  This episode Sir Lucious, Lamar, Clyde, and The Governor chime into a few aspects of what can be good, bad, and unknown in all things track and field.  Hey, even Big League has a "cent" or two to add to the pot.    Contracts, equipment issues, student-athletes, and of course THE COACHING CAROUSEL.  ...

Special opportunity today as we showcase one of our teammates at Gill on today's podcast. Clayton is finishing up his first year as our Construction Equipment Specialist. He walks us through what that means and how he's adjusted from his former life as a collegiate throws athlete. We learn of his awe-inspiring come from behind conference championship victory in the shot put his senior year, as wel...

Sorry for the delay tonight!  We take a quick (virtual) trip to the islands this week with our guest Lindon Victor-Grenadian Decathlete.  We have some great convo and perspective from the TAMU Aggie Alum.    Some convo that starts with broke-fessionals, USA Champs, and many side convos along the way.  Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!  Make good decisions y'al...

Change is in the air as we catch this week's guest transition between programs. Doug recently was named the new head coach of the University of Texas after successful years on the high school and junior college levels. Winning three team titles during his time at Iowa Western CC, we learn his journey from a D2 athlete, high school track coach, junior college, and now Division I. We also get inside...

This episode is going to make some people UNCOMFORTABLE!  Sir Lucious speaks about his experience watching the NCAA meet, USA Champs day 1, and everything in between!  Tune in! Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track equipment needs? Connect with us: Host Mike Cunningham on Twitter: @mikecunningham Email: sales@gillathletics.com Phone: 800-637-3090 Twitter: @GillAthleti...

A Trailblazer in Collegiate Track and Field In this riveting episode of the Connections Podcast, host Mike Cunningham welcomes the remarkable Beth Alford-Sullivan, a pioneer in collegiate track and field. Beth's illustrious career is marked by her achievements as the first woman to oversee men's programs in both the Big Ten and SEC. Beth delves into her early days as an athlete at the University o...

We're not sure what is more entertaining, the process of listing our picks for the results of the meet or the fact that we have to come back and say out loud what the pick was and either confirm or deny the fact that the results were exactly as expected (rare) or as far left as can be!  Nonetheless, we all find a way to defend our  process!!!  LOL, see you all in a few! Want to have...

Good things happen to good people and unfortunately bad things happen to good people. Today's guest gives us a good look at both. David takes us through an inconsistent beginning of his coaching career that sees him as an intern middle school coach, volunteer high school coaching and even a head coaching position at a college cross country program. After starting a track program at the college and...

Here we go again!  NCAA outdoor championships are here so you know what that means...PREDICTION TIME!!!  Tune in and see which events Sir Lucious chose this time around.  Who do you think is closest in their choices??? Want to have an exploratory conversation about YOUR track equipment needs?  Connect with us:   Host Mike Cunningham on Twitter: @mikecunningham Email: sales...

After a successful college career at Texas A&M, LaKeidra continued to search for her professional calling. With educational thoughts such as being a lawyer, or a astronomist, she gave her dream of a professional track career a shot. Still not finding the right fit, she turned towards her alma mater (Mansfield HS) and began working on her Master's. Here she found her path. Transitioning from a...

Tis the time of year when mischief is managed and chaos is controlled!  It's NCAA Championship season accompanied by the priming of the professional season.  Some times and marks are indicators and some are just numbers on a line.  Which of the two do the tiles think are interesting? Which of the marks do the tiles think are irrelevant???  Tune in to see Would you rather with S...

Absolute blast of a guest today on the Connections podcast, as we welcome the wise the wonderful Dave Cusano of Colby College. We sit down to discuss his journey as a professional football player, to coaching at his alma mater (Univ of Maine), and eventual head coaching stops at Wheaton College and now Colby College.  Stay tuned towards the end as we get into a fairly in-depth conversation ce...

Well, it's that time!  First round of Championships for D1, National Championships for D2, D3, NAIA...Best wishes to all the programs out there competing!  Just keep swimming!  Track is back starts the conversation off and even though this week was a short turn around for the tiles, there is still much to deliberate about!  Who knew?!  Then the conversation wraps up with t...