The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Learn the coach behind the stats from the coach herself. Well known as coaching the javelin sweep at the 2019 NCAA DI Championships in the javelin, Mississippi Associate Head Coach April Thomas joins us to discuss her journey in track and field. From growing up in Albany, Ga through a valuable life-altering stop at Cloud County Community College, Tennessee Vol undergrad April shares with us her story growing up as a coach at Mississippi State.

We had a fantastic time talking about recruiting against coaches who recruited her, the magic pill for coaching all-Americans, and saying sorry to her former coaches. Join us today and share with others this great conversation with a great coach.

TRACK IS BACK!  OOHHWWWEEE, what a weekend on the oval!  What stood out to Lucious, Lamar, and Clyde? Who caught their eye?  Next, let's talk about who ISN'T toeing the line yet.  What is the perspective of the guys as to what is happening in California, in regards to return to play for the CIF athletes.  Next, the big topic during COVID (and always, if we are honest) was what technology is everyone taking advantage of.  Do you agree with Lucious? Lamar? Clyde?  They speak on what their experiences have been and with specific products.  Listen up, y'all!  Lastly, we update the status of the NFL playoffs and who has guessed correctly and has the most teams moving on into the last four spots.    As always, we have a gent taking some heat in "Rapid Fire".  Lamar stands in the fire with some real life questions...do you agree with any of his responses?  To close out the night, we wrap up with the groups "Heartbeat Props"...learn about who has shaped our current day selves.  So as your day moves along, take a seat, grab a snack and tune in!

Stefanie joins us today to talk about her career from Arizona State, Florida State, McNeese State through becoming the head cross country coach at University of North Texas and now the head track and field and cross country coach for the Nicholls Colonels. We had a great conversation on what it takes to build a great cross country course at your school as well as an honest look at interviewing for positions and the lessons we can learn from mistakes made.

In our second Mega-Pod installment we take all three parts of our well-received series with Coach Harry Marra, add the bonus episode with Ashton Eaton, and package them together for your listening pleasure. Mega-Pod Volume 2 puts the original episodes in a different order; we start with episodes #25 and #27 to hear Marra's entire coaching journey, then we throw in Ashton's version of his time with Marra. We end with the most important episode, #26 where Marra gives his Four Principles To Fully Develop the Art of Coaching (PKTC). 

On a road trip and need all the entertainment and growth you can handle in one Mega Podcast? Well this is the one for you! 

Well, well, well...we've got some items developing on the show tonight!  Let's put our toe in the water by talking about the adjustment to the NCAA indoor championships schedule.  What does it ultimately do to the landscape of team championships?  Now that we are knee deep in the water, let's talk about the youth athletes declaring pro status before college.  What are the benefits or deficits of this life changing decision?  And we're in!  Fully submerged in the water, we throw out the indoor circuit that the American Track League (ATL) has put together and got slots for on ESPN.    CANNON BALL!!!  We finish out the conversation tonight talking about the  happenings in the different levels of football this week.  Sir Lucious wraps up the conversation in the hot seat in Rapid Fire and we return to giving out our Heart Beat Props.    Thank you for joining us for another night of great conversation!

Dana joins us today to talk about her journey in the sport of track and field and her career as a collegiate coach. After a promising Olympic career in the long jump was cut short by injury, several coaching mentors in her life gave her opportunities to coach. With stops at Middle Tennessee State University, University of South Carolina, Tulane University and more Dana has cultivated a career of winning at each stop. As a multi-time conference championship coach, Dana shares with us her philosophy of culture as a coach of her athletes and as a manager of her coaching staff.

Enjoy today's episode as we learn the roles of mentors, self-confidence, and determination to succeed have had in Dana Boone's career.

Here we are again for another conversation!  This episode, Lucious, Lamar, and Clyde discuss all things CHAMPIONSHIPS.  What do championship teams all have in common?  The guys all weigh in on what they have experienced to be characteristics of most championship teams.  Then we make a hard left and discuss the upcoming college football championship game as well as the NFL playoffs!  All outcomes are noted and ready to be battle-tested in the coming weeks.  Sit back and enjoy the ride y'all!

Today we explore the journey of a DIII athlete and coach who earned his position on a Big Ten coaching staff. Mike Erb ran track at Alleghany (Pa.) College and wound up the head coach of DIII University of Redlands (Ca.). After becoming the volunteer coach at Marquette University he applied and earned an assistant coaching position at the University of Illinois. Mike's story is one of not being a great athlete, not being connected within the Power 5 coaching network, and not even personally knowing the hiring head coach. 

High school and (former) collegiate indoor 200m record holder and Olympian Bianca Knight joins us for a special announcement. Tomorrow she unveils a new app (BK Track Stars) designed to help coaches around the country coach better, athletes to take ownership of their training results, and parents to get and stay involved with their child's track and field training.

Hear directly from Bianca as she describes her BKF Gives Track Foundation and her 'WHY' behind the app. Download starting tomorrow Feb 20, 2021 from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store the BK Track Stars app for free!

Bianca can be found online at the following places:

@bkfgives - Twitter, IG

The Bianca Knight Foundation - Facebook

bkfgives.org

@bktrackstars - IG, Twitter, tiktok

BK TrackStars - Facebook

BKTrackStars.com

@MsBiancaAK - Twitter

Bianca Knight - Facebook

The BKF GIVES MISSION is to promote excellence in youth track and field sports through clinics, competition meets and financial grants, while encouraging student athletes to give back to their communities.

Happy New Year to everyone!  Sit back and watch/listen to Lucious, Lamar and Clyde Talk about which of the training groups can be called THE GOAT of professional training groups.  Next, what is the NCAA indoor championships going to look like if programs are going to have different freedoms/restrictions imparted on them.  Do you agree or disagree with their perspectives?  Lastly, everyone reflects on what their best or favorite LLC moment of 2020.  Do you remember any of them?    We hope you all had a good day/night closing out 2020 and cheers to 2021!