The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Gill Athletics
  • 4.9 (73)
  • Running
  • Updated Weekly

Unlock the world of track & field coaching with The Gill Connections Podcast! Host Mike Cunningham brings you inspiring stories, real conversations, and coaching insights from leaders at every level. Discover a new coach's interview every Monday. Plus, don’t miss the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts with our NEW Gill1918 Project episodes Tuesday-Sunday — short, powerful lessons from top coaches to help you grow on and off the track. Powered by Gill Athletics — Supporting Coaches Since 1918.

  1. #178: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 2 Unlocking the Secrets of Speed"

    2d ago

    #178: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 2 Unlocking the Secrets of Speed"

    This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!

    34 min
  2. #177: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 1 Unlocking the Secrets of Speed"

    3d ago

    #177: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 1 Unlocking the Secrets of Speed"

    This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!

    31 min
  3. #176: Gill1918 Presents Athletic Movement Coach Steve Stokes “Movement Literacy” Powered by Coach O

    4d ago

    #176: Gill1918 Presents Athletic Movement Coach Steve Stokes “Movement Literacy” Powered by Coach O

    Steve is an EU American Football Hall of Famer, the Inventor and CEO of Two8 Bands, and the author of If We Knew Better, We'd Move Better. He shares one chapter of the audio version of his book to introduce the concept of movement literacy and to help us understand why it matters to coaches, athletes, and everyone else, too. If you have a topic that would benefit others, contact David Mitchell to find out how you can contribute an episode.

    12 min

  4. 5d ago

    #366: Sean Foulkes-Warsaw Community (IN) High School | Finding Purpose Through Coaching

    There are episodes where you learn… and then there are episodes where you feel something. This is one of those. Sean Foulkes didn’t start track and field because of a dream—he started because his friends wouldn’t let him skip practice. But what began as simple peer pressure turned into a deep pursuit of mastery, fueled by curiosity, VHS film breakdowns, and hours of self-coaching. Then life shifted. College brought unexpected challenges, new environments, and moments that forced Sean to step back and reevaluate who he was and where he was headed. And sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed. A single moment helping a friend unlocked something bigger: a realization that coaching wasn’t just something he could do—it was something he needed to do. This episode is about growth, identity, and the power of rediscovering direction through sport. 🔑 In this episode: 🧠 How curiosity and film study shaped Sean’s early development as a thrower🎯 The difference between having direction vs. drifting🔄 Navigating unexpected challenges in college athletics🧭 Rebuilding direction and identity through sport👥 Why helping others became the foundation of his coaching philosophy🏆 The moment he realized coaching was his true calling “I knew I liked the version of myself when I was competing.” – Sean Foulkes Dive into over 350 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 Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

    1h 55m
  5. #175: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 2 Women in Leadership"

    Jun 4

    #175: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 2 Women in Leadership"

    This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. To kick off the weekend they hosted a women4women program featuring inspirational speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!

    28 min
  6. #174: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 1 Women in Leadership"

    Jun 3

    #174: Gill1918 Presents Mechelle Freeman "Part 1 Women in Leadership"

    This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. To kick off the weekend they hosted a women4women program featuring inspirational speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!

    30 min
  7. #173: Gill1918 Presents Paralympian Tyson Gunter “A Para Track and Field Overview” Powered by Coach O

    Jun 2

    #173: Gill1918 Presents Paralympian Tyson Gunter “A Para Track and Field Overview” Powered by Coach O

    Tyson is a 7-time Team USA member including the 2016 Paralympic Games. He's a 2-time Para World Championships Silver Medalist, and a Para Pan American Gold Medalist. Tyson and his wife, Kenzie, met at Idaho State and now serve as high school T&F coaches in Idaho. He is also the E-Commerce Manager for Black Label Supplements--Science-Backed Sports Nutrition. In this episode, Tyson shares insights on Para T&F and offers future support to those who may wish to get involved. If you've got a topic to share, contact David Mitchell to learn how. We'd love to have you join the fun!

    22 min

  8. Jun 1

    #365: Alan Wardsworth-Central Valley (WA) HS | From Chaos to Coaching: A Journey Built on Curiosity & Resilience

    Alan Wardsworth’s story doesn’t start on a pristine track facility—it starts in chaos. A childhood that spanned continents. A high school that literally burned to the ground. A kid who wasn’t focused in the classroom… until sport gave him a reason to be. And then, almost by accident, he finds track and field. What follows is a journey shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to figure things out—from breaking school records in his first week, to learning events through instinct, to eventually becoming the kind of coach who impacts lives far beyond marks and medals. This one is a reminder of what makes this sport so powerful:➡️ It meets you where you are➡️ It gives you a reason to grow➡️ And if you let it… it can change everything 🔑 In this episode: 🌍 Growing up around the world and how it shaped his perspective🔥 Experiencing a high school burning down—and what that taught him about adaptability🏀 How eligibility struggles became a turning point academically💡 Discovering track & field almost by accident (and breaking records immediately)🧠 Early signs of a coaching mindset—problem solving before he even knew it🏃‍♂️ The environments and mentors that helped shape his coaching philosophy “I didn’t have the strength for the shot put… so I figured I had to use my legs. I didn’t know that’s what you’re supposed to do—I just knew I had to figure something out.” -Alan Wardsworth 🌟Explore Our Library: Dive into over 350 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such asBoo 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 ownGill1918 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 onTwitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

    1h 59m
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4.9
out of 5
73 Ratings

About

Unlock the world of track & field coaching with The Gill Connections Podcast! Host Mike Cunningham brings you inspiring stories, real conversations, and coaching insights from leaders at every level. Discover a new coach's interview every Monday. Plus, don’t miss the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts with our NEW Gill1918 Project episodes Tuesday-Sunday — short, powerful lessons from top coaches to help you grow on and off the track. Powered by Gill Athletics — Supporting Coaches Since 1918.

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