The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears.

Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, structure better workouts, enhance team culture, and more!

Whether you're a high school, collegiate, or club coach, Gill1918 is your go-to resource for quick, high-impact coaching education from the best minds in the sport.

📩 Want to contribute an episode? Submit your 10-30 minute coaching talk to [email protected] or read ⁠⁠THIS LINKEDIN ARTICLE⁠⁠ for information on how to get started. All coaches are invited to participate!

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe and follow Gill Athletics for more expert coaching insights!

#TrackAndField #CoachingEducation #Gill1918 #CoachesHelpingCoaches #TrackCoach #AthleticsTraining

Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears.

Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, structure better workouts, enhance team culture, and more!

Whether you're a high school, collegiate, or club coach, Gill1918 is your go-to resource for quick, high-impact coaching education from the best minds in the sport.

📩 Want to contribute an episode? Submit your 10-30 minute coaching talk to [email protected] or read ⁠⁠THIS LINKEDIN ARTICLE⁠⁠ for information on how to get started. All coaches are invited to participate!

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe and follow Gill Athletics for more expert coaching insights!

#TrackAndField #CoachingEducation #Gill1918 #CoachesHelpingCoaches #TrackCoach #AthleticsTraining

Proud to introduce our newest podcast The Gill1918 Project. Created by coaches, for coaches, we aim to bring the once a year track clinic to your ears on a daily basis. Enjoy today's introduction by Gill's very own Biz Dev Manager Mike Cunningham.

📩 Want to contribute your own episode? Contact the Track and Field Podfather Mike Cunningham at [email protected] or read THIS LINKEDIN ARTICLE for information on how to get started. All coaches are invited to participate!

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe and follow Gill Athletics for more expert coaching insights!

#TrackAndField #CoachingEducation #Gill1918 #CoachesHelpingCoaches #TrackCoach #AthleticsTraining

🎙️ From Starting Blocks to the Boardroom: Shawn Jakubowski’s Journey from Coach to College Administrator 🦅📈

What happens when a passionate track coach trades in the stopwatch for spreadsheets? 🏃‍♂️➡️📊 Meet Shawn Jakubowski, former head track & field and cross country coach and now Associate Athletic Director for External Relations at Fort Lewis College. In this powerful conversation, Shawn walks us through his deeply personal and professional journey—from winning state titles in high school, launching a collegiate program from scratch, to leading a program through tragedy, and eventually stepping into athletic administration.

👟 Coaching roots

💼 Administrative calling

🧠 Mentorship and leadership

📉 Personal loss and professional pivots

🌄 Building culture at Fort Lewis College

Whether you're a coach curious about making a bigger impact off the track or just love inspiring stories about grit and growth, this episode delivers.

“I felt like I could make a difference—not just for 50 student-athletes, but for 400. And that changed everything.” – Shawn Jakubowski

🔗 Tap in and hear how Shawn is still coaching—just on a much larger scale.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Wonderful opportunity as Gill Athletics is searching for two new awesome Servant Leaders to join our growing team. We're looking for the right people to join us as we influence and lead the sports equipment markets.

Sports Construction Sales Estimator (click for job description, pay scale, bonus eligibility, and more!)

Sales Rep for Gill Athletics T&F Division (click for job description, pay scale, bonus eligibility, and more!)

Both positions are based out of our Champaign, Il manufacturing facilities and offices.

**🎙️ "Purpose Over Podiums: Coaching at West Point with Brian Woodbury🦾"**

In this powerful and purpose-driven episode, we sit down with Brian Woodbury, the throws coach at Army West Point, to explore what it *really* means to coach at a service academy — and why it’s unlike anything else in collegiate athletics. 💥🎯

From his roots as a football-first athlete in Maine to building a nationally dominant private throws club, and now mentoring some of the most disciplined and driven cadet-athletes in the country, Brian’s journey is packed with hard-earned wisdom. 💪🏽🔥

We dive deep into:

- The intense expectations of coaching at a military academy

- How he balances passion and purpose with personal boundaries 🧘‍♂️🗓️

- The culture-shaping power of track & field at West Point

- Recruiting athletes who are willing to serve something greater than themselves ✊

- The difference between training an athlete… and building a human 💯

And perhaps most importantly, Brian shares the core belief that guides him every single day:

> “If I feel like I'm helping people, I feel like I'm fulfilling my purpose.” 🙌

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or just someone who believes in leadership through service, this conversation is a must-listen. Buckle up — you're about to hear what coaching is all about at the highest level of heart and discipline. 🏅

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Huge offer from Gill Athletics ending May 31st. Purchase a Pole Vault Pit from Gill Athletics and receive 10 FREE vaulting poles. Contact your preferred Gill Athletics dealer or give us a call at 800-637-3090 and we'll get you taken care of the right way.

Specifics:

* Must purchase a Pole Vault Pit and weather cover; or a pole vault pit valuepack.

* Essentials PV pit is ineligible for this promotion.

* Order must be received before May 31st, 2025.

* Pacer Composite poles are excluded from the FREE vaulting pole offer.

* Only new orders are eligible.

🔥 **“Building Throw Town: Caleb Seal’s Field of Dreams”** 🎯

This week on the Gill Connections podcast, host Mike Cunningham sits down with the visionary behind one of the most exciting throwing venues in the world — **Caleb Seal**, founder of **Seal Throwing Club** and the force behind **Throw Town Ramona**.

From humble beginnings in the Texas panhandle to building a world-class facility in the small town of Ramona, Oklahoma, Caleb shares his inspiring journey of passion, perseverance, and purpose. 🌾➡️🌎

He reflects on:

💥 His early throwing days and how a local mentor shaped his love for the sport

🏗️ The challenges (and triumphs) of transforming cow pastures into a world-record-worthy venue

🌪️ How Throw Town became a proving ground for national champions and Olympians

🌍 Hosting global talent and a WORLD RECORD discus throw in only the *third* year of the facility’s existence

🧠 And the core belief that guides his coaching: *“What you do after practice is what makes you good.”*

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or dreamer looking to leave your mark on the sport, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look at how one man's dream is changing the landscape of throwing in America.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

#GillConnections #TrackAndField #ThrowTownRamona #CalebSeal #FieldOfDreams #Discus #HammerThrow #ShotPut #CoachingExcellence #TrackAndFieldLife #WorldRecordReady 💪🌀🥇

**🎙️Keinan Briggs – Building Champions On and Off the Track 🏆**

In this episode, we sit down with **Keinan Briggs**, the owner, founder, and coach of **Leap Squad Track Club** and the creator of **Leap Squad Academy**. Keinan shares his **incredible journey** from a multi-sport athlete to a highly respected track and field coach, helping young athletes reach their full potential.

### 🔥 Key Topics Covered:

✅ **Keinan’s origin story** – From watching a struggling athlete at his first track meet to becoming a top-tier jumper 🏃‍♂️

✅ **The evolution of his coaching philosophy** – Blending personal training, biomechanics, and mentorship to develop athletes 💡

✅ **High school vs. club coaching dynamics** – How to bridge the gap between high school and club track programs 🤝

✅ **Preparing athletes for college success** – More than just talent, it’s about **self-advocacy** and communication 📞

✅ **"Athletes, call schools on your behalf!"** – Keinan’s must-hear advice on how recruits should take control of their future 🎯

### 🎤 Plus:

🚀 The biggest mistakes athletes make in the recruiting process

💪 Why coaching is more than just training – it’s mentorship and leadership

📚 How Keinan is educating **coaches, athletes, and parents** through Leap Squad Academy

This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical advice for **athletes, parents, and coaches alike**. **Don't miss it!** 🎧🔥

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

🏃‍♂️⚾ **Guest: Jeff Billing, Head Coach at Hall High School, CT** 🏆🎯

This week, we welcome **Jeff Billing**, head coach at **Hall High School in Connecticut**, for a fascinating conversation about his **unique journey** in sports, coaching, and teaching. Jeff’s background includes **coaching multiple sports**, running at **MIT**, and even **coaching baseball before transitioning fully into track and field**.

🔹 **Topics Covered:**

✅ Jeff’s upbringing in a legendary **New England running family** 🏃‍♂️👨‍👩‍👦

✅ His experience as a **multi-sport NCAA athlete (Baseball & Track)** ⚾🏃‍♂️

✅ Transitioning from **software engineering at Oracle** to a **career in education & coaching** 💻➡️📚

✅ How he went from **zero experience in coaching hurdles & pole vault** to **building champions** 🏅

✅ The **ever-changing recruiting landscape** & advice for high school athletes 🎓

💡 **Quote of the Day:** _"Everything matters and nothing matters."_ – Jeff Billing

Jeff’s story is one of **adaptability, passion, and lifelong learning**—a true testament to how embracing opportunities (even unexpected ones) can lead to success!

🎧 **Tune in now** for this inspiring episode! 🔥 #TrackAndField #Coaching #GillAthletics #HighSchoolSports #MultiSportAthlete

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍