Becoming Uncommon Podcast – Travis Geopfert Episode Description

What does it actually take to build a program that produces Olympians, Bowerman winners, and NCAA champions—year after year?

In this episode of Becoming Uncommon, I sit down with Travis Geopfert, the new Director of Track & Field / Cross Country at Kansas State Wildcats and one of the most respected jumps and multi-events coaches in the world.

With 22 years of coaching stops at University of Arkansas, University of Tennessee, University of Northern Iowa, and University of Central Missouri, Geopfert has coached:

• 20 NCAA National Champions
• 106 First Team All-Americans
• 15 Olympians and 1 Paralympian
• Multiple Bowerman finalists and winners
• Olympic medalists including Tara Davis-Woodhall and Wayne Pinnock at the 2024 Summer Olympics

But this conversation isn’t about medals.

It’s about how.

We talk about:

• Building a family culture that produces elite performance
• What separates a good coach from an elite coach
• How he develops high-performance jumpers and multi-event athletes
• Lessons from coaching world champions and Olympic medalists
• Recruiting wisdom for athletes trying to find the right college fit
• Following a legend and leading a storied program into a new era
• Why community, humility, and relationships are the real foundation of success

Geopfert shares stories from coaching Tara Davis-Woodhall, managing expectations at the highest level, and the mindset required to consistently produce greatness without losing the human side of coaching.

If you’re a coach, athlete, or parent trying to understand what elite development really looks like behind the scenes—this episode is a masterclass.

This is a conversation about legacy, leadership, and the uncommon habits that build champions on and off the runway.