The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

🎙️ Celebrating Excellence in Track and Field Coaching 🎙️

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Ursula Harris, the head coach of Scotlandville High School in Louisiana, who was named the USTFCCCA Girls National Track Coach of the Year! 🏆👟

Join us as we delve into Ursula's inspiring journey, from her early days as a standout high school athlete to her current role as a transformative coach. Ursula shares her unique insights and experiences, highlighting the importance of stability and trust in building a successful team. She reflects on her coaching philosophy, emphasizing that "Kids take things better from their peers than other coaches," and how this peer-driven approach has been pivotal in her team's remarkable achievements.

Listen in as Ursula recounts the magical season that led to this prestigious award, including the challenges and triumphs of coaching through a pandemic and fostering leadership among her athletes. Plus, discover the personal connection and special bond she shares with her daughter, a standout hurdler, who has been a significant part of Scotlandville's success.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or track and field enthusiast, Ursula's story is sure to inspire and motivate. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the business and celebrate the passion and dedication that drive the sport of track and field forward. 🌟🏅

Don't miss this episode packed with wisdom, heart, and a celebration of coaching excellence. Press play and be inspired! 🎧📈

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 250 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

We're bringing you the individual interviews from the LIVE taping of the Gill Connections podcast from the 2023 USTFCCCA Convention.

Check us out again this year on December 16th at 6pm est on ⁠YOUTUBE ⁠or at the Gill Athletics booth in Orlando.

🌟 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're bringing you the individual interviews from the LIVE taping of the Gill Connections podcast from the 2023 USTFCCCA Convention.

Check us out again this year on December 16th at 6pm est on ⁠YOUTUBE ⁠or at the Gill Athletics booth in Orlando.

🌟 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! 🎧👍

Finding Your Why: The Journey from College to High School Coaching 🏃‍♂️🏫

In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we dive deep into the career transitions of former collegiate track and field coaches who have made the move to the high school level. 🏃‍♂️🏫 Our panel features Corey Mistretta and Sean Brady of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, and Bryan Fetzer, former athletic director of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, each with an impressive college coaching background (Mississippi State, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas A&M, and more). Together, they bust the myth that college coaching is the pinnacle of the profession and shed light on the many rewards of working in high school athletics. 💡

Throughout the conversation, we explore the reasons behind their transitions, the challenges and opportunities of high school coaching, and most importantly, the need to understand your "why" as a coach. As Corey Mistretta puts it, **"The first thing you have to do is know your why."** 🧠❤️ This episode is a must-listen for college coaches considering a move to high school, or anyone curious about the different paths in coaching track and field. 🎧

Join us as we discuss the realities of finding balance ⚖️, adjusting expectations, and continuing to shape athletes' lives, no matter the level. 🌱 Whether you're on the college or high school track, this episode will provide valuable insights and perspective. Tune in for a raw, thoughtful conversation that may just change the way you think about coaching. 🔥

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

🎙️ The Road to Success: Breaking Barriers in College Athletics with FSU's Matt Kane 🏃‍♂️🏆

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Kane, head coach of Florida State University, to talk about the ins and outs of recruiting, developing, and shaping athletes at the collegiate level. We dive into the challenges of competing for in-state talent, his experiences at Barton College, and the significance of mentorship and leadership in coaching.

Matt shares compelling stories from his career, including his work with world-class athletes, the excitement of coaching in the World Championships, and the valuable lessons learned from his time across different institutions. We also cover the growing culture of college transfers and why, in Matt's words, “It's ok to break up with your girlfriend”—a powerful analogy for athletes deciding to transfer schools for better opportunities.

💡 Whether you're an athlete, coach, or track enthusiast, this episode offers deep insights into the world of track and field, college athletics, and the human side of coaching.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

BONUS material from the Hey dude! What's up man? Podcast. Coaches Julia Abell and Wendell McCraven share a lesson learned from McCraven's college coach the Hall of Famer Al Carius. The Emotional Water Bottle will help you in your career and that's why we wanted to share it with you. ENJOY!

Here's their original episode description, go over and subscribe to their podcast, you won't regret it:

📲 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

In this episode of the Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections podcast, we sit down with the dynamic Chauntiel Smith-Jones, an assistant track and field coach at Indiana Tech and the owner/founder of Capture Sports Agency. 🦅🏃‍♀️

Chauntiel shares her unique journey from being a basketball-first athlete to discovering a passion for track in high school and how that led to her dual career in sports agency and coaching. We dive into the challenges she faced starting her own agency, the role of faith and mentorship in her success, and how she balances both coaching and being a sports agent. 💼🏀

Tune in as Chauntiel offers invaluable insights into the world of NIL, building an athlete’s brand, and what it really takes to succeed in the competitive world of sports management. Whether you’re a track coach, an aspiring sports agent, or simply interested in a fresh perspective on the business of sports, this episode is a must-listen! 🎧✨

Key topics:

Navigating a male-dominated industry as a female sports agent 🙌

Building Capture Sports Agency from the ground up 🌱

How coaching and agency work intersect 🤝

Mental health and athlete support 🧠💪

Stay tuned and get ready for a masterclass in sports management and coaching from one of the rising stars in the industry! 🎙️🔥

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

When Hawgs Fly is the podcast for Sports Hawgs sports journals (www.SportsHawgs.com). We met at the Texas High School Coaches Association where National Business Development Manager Mike Cunningham was serving as the Track and Field host emcee. They invited Mike on to discuss sports in general, but you know he couldn't help himself to talk up track and field coaches.

Enjoy this episode of the When Hawgs Fly podcast and hear Mike talk about concussions, multi-sport athletes, and of course Track and Field Coaches.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

From High Jump to High Performance: A Conversation with Brendan Wilkins 🏆

Join us as we sit down with Brendan Wilkins, Assistant Track & Field Coach at Quinnipiac University, to explore his unique journey from athlete to coach. Brendan shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including how his mentor, Ethan Brown, introduced him to the life-changing book The Upside of Stress by Dr. Kelly McGonigal—a book Brendan says "changed the direction of my career." Hear about Brendan's passion for helping athletes not only improve their physical performance but also their mindset toward stress, transforming challenges into opportunities. 🌟

Tune in for insights on athlete development, the power of mentorship, and the emotional highs and lows of coaching. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on resilience and growth. 🚀

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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 our listeners! 🎧👍

Originally published March 18th, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!

We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!