The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

In this episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham sits down with Stephanie Bohannon, Director of Operations and Meet Manager for the University of Washington Track & Field and Cross Country programs.

From her beginnings as a student-athlete at UConn to her time with TrackTownUSA, Oregon Track & Field, and now Washington, Stephanie shares a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep elite collegiate programs and world-class events running smoothly.

The conversation dives into event management, athlete services, logistics, problem solving, the evolution of Washington Track & Field under Andy and Maurica Powell, and why relationships remain one of the most valuable skills in the sport.

Whether you're a coach, administrator, meet director, or simply a fan of the sport, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the people and processes that make track & field happen.

🎙 Topics Include:

🔹 Stephanie's journey from UConn athlete to Director of Operations

🔹 Lessons learned at TrackTownUSA and the University of Oregon

🔹 Building Washington Track & Field alongside Andy and Maurica Powell

🔹 What happens behind the scenes at major meets

🔹 Running competitions at the Dempsey Indoor Facility

🔹 Athlete services at the Prefontaine Classic and World Athletics U20 Championships

🔹 Why every connection matters

🔹 The art of problem solving in collegiate athletics

🔹 What makes great operations professionals successful

Dive into nearly 400 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 Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network.

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

An exceptional organization, the Business of Small College Athletics (BoSCA), holds an annual convention attended by some of the most passionate hard working adminstrators in the country.

Coming together to share their experiences and knowledge, the BoSCA Convention features some of the top administrators around speaking on important topics that could provide value to our current slate of track/field coaches whether you have an interest in becoming an administrator one day or not.

We hope these next few weeks of topics from ADs from Albany State, U of Indianapolis and more will encourage you, educate you, and challenge you for future growth.

ENJOY!

What are the most common pole vault pit mistakes coaches make?In this episode, Mike Cunningham shares the seven pit maintenance and safety mistakes he sees most often during facility visits across the country.You'll learn:✅ Why regular inspections matter✅ How small tears become expensive repairs✅ The importance of weather covers✅ Why vault box collars should never be overlooked✅ Common mistakes involving standards and base pads✅ How athlete traffic impacts pit lifespan✅ Why total cost of ownership matters✅ Simple ways to extend the life of your landing systemMany pole vault pit problems are preventable. The coaches who get the most life from their equipment are usually the ones who inspect regularly, fix small issues early, and proactively protect their investment.📖 Read the full article: The 7 Most Common Pole Vault Pit Mistakes Coaches Make

Dive into nearly 400 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 Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network.📲 Stay Connected:Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

How often should you inspect your pole vault pit?

In this episode, Mike Cunningham walks coaches through a complete pole vault pit inspection checklist and explains why regular inspections are one of the easiest ways to improve athlete safety and extend the life of a landing system.

You'll learn:

✅ What to inspect before, during, and after the season

✅ How to evaluate top pads, foam, vinyl, and hardware

✅ Common warning signs coaches shouldn't ignore

✅ How water intrusion damages pits

✅ Why weather covers should be inspected too

✅ The importance of rotating landing sections

✅ How to identify repair and replacement needs early

Whether you're responsible for a brand-new facility or a 20-year-old landing system, this episode provides practical inspection tips every coach can use.

📖 Read the full article: Pole Vault Pit Inspection Checklist for Coaches

Dive into nearly 400 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 Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network.

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

#PoleVault #TrackAndField #GillAthletics #TrackCoach #PoleVaultCoach #AthleticFacilities #FacilityManagement #SportsFacilities #TrackAndFieldSafety

David is a coach and T&F announcer who spent 23 of his 39 years in public education serving as a school counselor spanning grades K-12. Along the way, David learned communication techniques to make difficult conversations more fruitful and less painful. He shares these techniques here, including a powerful response to a common passive-aggressive statement.

He is also the coordinator of this Youth and Beginner Series Powered by Coach O. If you’d like to contribute an episode, he’d LOVE to hear from you! Email David to learn more.

Note: This episode was originally released 8/5/25.

What happens when a coach sees something in you before you see it in yourself?

For Kalamazoo Central Head Coach Tyler Germain, that story starts with two teachers who convinced a tall sophomore football and basketball player to give track and field a chance. A surprise entry into the 300-meter hurdles sparked a journey that would eventually lead to a Michigan state championship and one of the fastest-growing programs in the state.

In this episode, Tyler shares how coaches changed his life during a difficult time as a teenager, why he became an English teacher and coach, and how an opportunity to volunteer with his former high school team at age 18 launched a coaching career that now spans more than two decades.

Along the way, we dive into coaching education, mentorship, recruiting athletes from the hallways, the influence of Feed the Cats, and the culture shifts that helped grow Kalamazoo Central from roughly 65 athletes to nearly 200 athletes.

We also talk about music, garage bands, state titles, coaching through COVID, and why making track the best part of an athlete's day might be the most important coaching philosophy of all.

🎙️ From Bay City to Champaign to Kalamazoo

🏃 How a first-time 300 hurdle race changed everything

🎸 Life on the road playing in bands across the country

📚 Teaching English and coaching track for 22 years

🏆 Building a state championship program

⚡ Growing participation through speed and culture

🤝 The mentors who shaped the coach Tyler became

Whether you're coaching high school, college, or simply love the sport, Tyler's story is filled with practical wisdom and powerful reminders about the impact coaches have on young people.

Dive into nearly 400 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 Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network.📲 Stay Connected:
Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

In this engaging conversation, Coach Dave Turnbull shareshis journey from a young athlete in Pendleton, Oregon, to becoming the head track coach at Summit High School. He discusses his dual life as a coach / teacher and a DJ, the importance of building a winning culture, and his coaching philosophy centered around character development. Coach Turnbull reflects on the challenges of coaching, the significance of recruiting the right athletes, and his vision for the future of track and field. He emphasizes the need for constant learning and adaptation in coaching and passionately explains why he believes track is the greatest sport, as it mirrors life's challenges and triumphs. In this conversation, Coach Turnbull shares his insights on coaching, personal growth, and the importance of teamwork. Hereflects on his own experiences with adversity, including a cancer diagnosis, and emphasizes the need for resilience in both athletics and life. Coach Turnbull discusses the significance of discipline, caring for all athletes regardless oftheir skill level, and the value of inspiring growth beyond performance metrics. He also highlights the importance of building relationships within a team and the need for coaches to continuously challenge themselves. The conversation concludes with Coach Turnbull's thoughts on retirement and his aspirations for the future.

When should a pole vault pit be replaced?

Most coaches immediately think about age. But age alone doesn't tell the whole story.

In this episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham breaks down the real factors that determine when a pole vault landing system should be repaired, replaced, or removed from service. From foam degradation and water intrusion to compliance concerns and liability risks, this episode provides practical guidance for coaches, athletic directors, and facility managers responsible for athlete safety.

You'll learn:

✅ Why pit age is often the wrong metric

✅ Common warning signs that indicate replacement may be needed

✅ How foam, vinyl, and hardware condition affect safety

✅ The role water intrusion plays in shortening pit life

✅ When repairs may be appropriate and when replacement becomes necessary

✅ How NFHS and NCAA compliance can impact replacement decisions

✅ Why regular inspections are critical

✅ How coaches can successfully advocate for replacement funding

One of the biggest mistakes programs make is waiting until a pit becomes an emergency. The best replacement projects start years before the purchase through planning, budgeting, inspections, and communication.

If you're responsible for a pole vault facility, this conversation can help you make better decisions, reduce risk, and provide a safer environment for athletes.

The goal isn't compliance. The goal is safety.

A pole vault pit should be replaced when it can no longer safely perform its intended function. That decision should be driven by condition, performance, and athlete safety, not simply the age of the landing system.

LINKEDIN ARTICLE

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

How long does a pole vault pit actually last?

It's one of the most common questions coaches ask, but the answer isn't as simple as 10 years, 15 years, or 20 years.

In this episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham breaks down the factors that truly determine the lifespan of a pole vault pit and explains why age alone is often the wrong metric.

You'll learn:

✅ Why indoor pits often last longer than outdoor pits

✅ How sun, rain, snow, and temperature changes impact pit life

✅ The critical role weather covers and pit garages play

✅ How usage volume affects foam, vinyl, and hardware

✅ The difference between pit age and pit condition

✅ What a pole vault pit warranty actually covers

✅ Practical steps coaches can take to extend pit lifespan

✅ Common warning signs that indicate repairs or replacement may be needed

Throughout the discussion, Mike shares real-world examples from facility visits across the country, including pits that remained serviceable after 20+ years and others that required replacement much sooner due to environmental exposure, water intrusion, and maintenance issues.

Whether you're evaluating your current pit, planning future budgets, or simply trying to protect one of the largest investments in your pole vault program, this episode provides practical guidance to help maximize safety and extend the life of your landing system.

📖 Read the full article: How Long Does a Pole Vault Pit Last?

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

Sydnee started at a small high school in GA competing in the shot put and discus. She shares the steps on her path to becoming a 4-time Junior Olympic national hammer throw champion, 2-time HS All-American, and then a top-10 all-time performer in the hammer and weight throw for the University of Oregon. She also offers suggestions to current youth athletes, parents, and coaches on how to forge their own path. Sydnee is the founder and CE[http:]O of The Collaborative LLC and also works as a Social Media & Marketing Professional. 

Note: This episode was originally published 2/3/26.If you've got something awesome like this that you'd like to share, please contact David Mitchell to learn how!