The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

🎙️ **Gill Connections Podcast - "Impressing at Every Turn with Jess Riden"**

**Host:** Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager

**Guest:** Jess Riden, Associate Director of Track and Field at the University of North Carolina

In this insightful episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham sits down with Jess Riden, the Associate Director of Track and Field at the University of North Carolina. Jess brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the operational side of collegiate track and field. 🏃‍♀️🎽

**Episode Highlights:**

1. **Housekeeping and Shoutouts** 📣:

- Mike starts with a shoutout to a listener's review, highlighting the success of the state meet qualifying podcast series.

2. **Introduction to Jess Riden** 🌟:

- Jess's impressive journey from Reedsville, Pennsylvania, to her current role at UNC.

- Her background as a multi-sport athlete in high school and her path to collegiate track and field.

3. **Role of a Director of Operations** 📋:

- Jess discusses her transition from sports journalism to sports information director roles at Bucknell and East Tennessee State before moving into operations.

- The evolution of her role at Penn State, Washington, Stanford, and now UNC.

- The importance of organization, communication, and creating a supportive environment for coaches and athletes.

4. **Challenges and Successes** 🏆:

- The complexity of managing large-scale meets and the intricacies of compliance, budget, and travel logistics.

- Jess shares anecdotes about significant meets and the behind-the-scenes efforts that ensure their success.

5. **Career Development and Leadership** 🌱:

- Jess emphasizes the significance of networking and continuous learning.

- Insights into how to maintain professionalism and advance in a career without necessarily moving into coaching.

- The role of mentorship and building strong relationships within the athletic department.

6. **Quote of the Episode** 💬:

- Jess's memorable quote, "You never know who you're going to impress," serves as a reminder of the importance of always putting your best foot forward.

7. **Looking Ahead** 🔮:

- Future goals and aspirations for Jess in her career.

- Advice for young professionals looking to enter the field of sports operations and management.

**Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jess Riden as she shares her journey, the importance of operational roles in collegiate sports, and how her leadership has made a lasting impact on track and field programs across the country.**

**Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to let us know what you think!**

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Sean Carlson of Univ of Tennessee, Dave Smith of Oklahoma State, Kyle Rutledge of Pitt State, 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! 🎧👍

A snapshot in time; republishing episode #22:

Originally this episode was published the first week of April in 2020, however the internet had other plans. Recently we were notified episode #22 featuring Nicole and Eric Kramer was taken down; that's right "they" took down this episode from all podcast apps and even YouTube. We have no idea why, but we know we won't let "them" win, so we are republishing their story because their journey matters.

So proud of Nicole and Eric for joining us on the podcast, they were our first married couple coaches to do so. We've since had several other married coaches join us including Michelle Clayton and Marc Davis from TROY and Yvonne and Larry Wade formerly of UNLV.

You'll have to remember this episode was recorded in 2020 and the Gill Connections podcast has certainly grown in quality (audio, editing, etc) since then, however we weren't going to let that stop us from making sure their story lives out there for future coaches to hear and learn from.

ENJOY!

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Boo Schexnayder of LSU, Diljeet Taylor of BYU, Petros Kyprianou of Illinois, and many more! Find us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts 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! 🎧👍

Today's bonus episode is a recording of a talk with QnA from Young Harris College's Leadership Academy featuring Gill National Business Development Manager Mike Cunningham. Mike speaks to future leaders who currently participate in a sport at YHC. Mike speaks on social media, podcasting, networking and leadership. You won't believe what he says about GOLF?!?!

ENJOY!

🎙️ **Gill Connections Podcast: Ep. 262- Vaulting to Success with Kortney Ross-Oates**

Join host Mike Cunningham as he welcomes Kortney Ross-Oates, a standout member of Gill Athletics' Customer Service team and a professional pole vaulter, on this episode of Gill Connections. 🏅🎧

Dive into Kortney's fascinating journey from high school championships to becoming a top collegiate athlete and ultimately a professional in the sport. Kortney shares her unique insights from competing across two prestigious university programs and the shift to professional pole vaulting that led her around the globe. 🌍🥇

🌟 Highlight of the episode: Kortney discusses the pivotal moments of her career, her recruitment process, and the crucial decisions that shaped her path. She opens up about the pressures of collegiate athletics and finding her place in the competitive world of pole vaulting.

Tune in to hear how Kortney navigated the highs and lows of her sport, and how she balances her role at Gill Athletics with her passion for pole vaulting. Whether you're a budding athlete, a seasoned coach, or a sports enthusiast, this episode packs motivational stories and practical advice for chasing your dreams while staying grounded. 🎙️💪

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Boo Schexnayder of LSU, Diljeet Taylor of BYU, Petros Kyprianou of Illinois, and many more! Find us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts 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! 🎧👍

Today we take a look at how the state of Wyoming qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet.

*Fun Fact: Wyoming awards the top athlete in each event from all four classes a 'Best of the Best' award!

Today we take a look at how the state of Wisconsin qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet.

*Fun Fact: In lieu of a meet of champions after the official state meet, Wisconsin hosts a Freshman State Invitational where any freshman can run in a high caliber competition!

Today we take a look at how the state of West Virginia qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet.

*Fun Fact: West Virginia does NOT have boys/girls Triple Jump event however they do officially run the Shuttle Hurdle Relay at their state meet!

🎧 Tune into a heartening episode of the Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections podcast, where host Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager for Gill Athletics, welcomes Tabarie Henry, Assistant Track Coach at New Mexico Junior College. As we round off a swift-moving season, dive into a conversation that spans the trials and triumphs of a life dedicated to track and field. 🏃‍♂️💨

In this episode, Tabarie recounts his serendipitous connection with Mike, sparked from a simple yet impactful interaction on Twitter during his competitive days at Texas A&M. Their bond, rooted in genuine admiration and mutual respect for the sport, has flourished over the years, underscoring the power of social media in forging lasting relationships. 🌐🤝

As Tabarie discusses his journey from a celebrated athlete to a revered coach, he shares his heartfelt philosophy: "I just wanted to put smiles on people's faces!" Beyond the races and rigorous training, it’s the joy and fulfillment of mentoring young athletes that truly drives him. With his tenure at NMJC concluding, Tabarie is poised for the next chapter in his coaching career, actively seeking new opportunities to inspire and lead in the world of track and field. 🌟🏅

Join us for an uplifting dialogue that celebrates not only the achievements on the track but also the profound connections that sport can foster. This episode is a tribute to the spirit of coaching and the unexpected friendships that can change our courses forever. 🎙️

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Sean Carlson of Univ of Tennessee, Dave Smith of Oklahoma State, Kylte Rutledge of Pitt State, 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! 🎧👍

Today we take a look at how the state of Washington DC qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet.

*Fun Fact: Washington DC does not contest the pole vault event for boys or girls!

Today we take a look at how the state of Washington qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet.

*Fun Fact: Washington runs the 4x200m relay event at the state meet for the girls only; no boys 4x200m!