The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

🎙️ **Leading with Heart: Sheila Burrell on Coaching, Confidence, and Connection** 🎙️

🔥 In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we sit down with the inspiring Sheila Burrell, head coach of San Diego State University. From her days as a shy, athletic kid in Albuquerque to becoming a two-time Olympian and top-tier coach, Sheila shares her incredible journey through the world of track and field.

🏅 Sheila opens up about the importance of representation, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why working with people—not just coaching—has been key to her success. Her powerful quote resonates throughout the episode:

**"I'm not necessarily a great coach, but I am good at working with people."**

💪 Tune in to hear:

- How Sheila found track through a friend and rose to Olympic heights 🌎

- The lessons learned from legendary coaches like Bob Kersee and Cliff Rovelto 📚

- Why she believes making an Olympic team was tougher than becoming a head coach 🏆

- Her approach to developing athletes and how she navigates the challenges of coaching today 👟

Sheila’s candid reflections and stories are filled with wisdom, grit, and humor. Don’t miss this deep dive into the life of a coach who’s making a difference one athlete at a time.

🎧 Hit play and get ready to be inspired!

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

We had the incredible honor of sitting down with Mechelle Freeman, the 2024 Head Women's Relay Coach for Team USA. Mechelle brings a wealth of experience, from her days blazing down the track at South Carolina 🐔🏃‍♀️ to leading the world’s fastest women on the biggest stages.

🔥 In this episode, Mechelle shares:

- How racing boys in her neighborhood sparked her love for track 🏃‍♀️💨

- The twin dynamic – growing up with her equally fast sister 👯‍♀️

- Winning a National Championship at South Carolina and learning from Coach Curtis Frye 🏆

- Her transition from advertising to chasing Olympic dreams and eventually coaching elite athletes

- The science and art behind coaching Team USA’s relays – and the pressure that comes with it! 💪📊

One of the standout moments? Mechelle’s motto: "I observe and I learn." 🧠👀

✨ We also dive deep into her work with TrackGirlz, empowering young women in the sport and breaking down barriers for future generations 🌍👧🏽💪.

🎧 Hit play and get inspired by Mechelle’s journey of resilience, faith, and leadership – this one’s not to be missed!

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

#TrackAndField #GilConnections #WomenInSports #RelayCoach

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Welcome to our February BONUS series! Every day this month, we're sitting down with fellow track and field podcasters to spotlight their amazing shows. In each episode, we dive into their story—how and why they started, their format, their most popular episodes, and where you can tune in. Whether you're looking to expand your podcast playlist or discover fresh perspectives in the world of track and field, this series is here to add value to your listening experience. Don't miss this exciting journey through the podcasting community! 🎙️🎉

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and 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 him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍