The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Gill Athletics
  • 4.9 (73)
  • Running
  • 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. 18h ago

    #253: Gill1918 Presents USATF Hall of Fame Member Terrence Trammell “Introduction to Coaching Hurdlers” Powered by Coach O

    Terrence is a 2-time Olympic Silver Medal winner over 3 Olympic Games, a 4-time World Champion, and a 6-time NCAA Champ in the high hurdles. In a word---legendary. He's now Coach Trammell at NCA&T where another USATF Hall of Fame Hurdler, Allen Johnson the Director of T&F, entrusts Terrence to coach the program's hurdlers and sprinters. That's saying something! In this episode, Coach Trammell provides a solid foundation for coaches as they work with young hurdlers. He will take it much deeper at his in-person Hurdle Coaching Clinic on December 13. Register here: https://coachtrammellcamps.totalcamps.com/shop/EVENT If you've got something to share with our youth T&F audience, contact David Mitchell to learn more.

    #253: Gill1918 Presents USATF Hall of Fame Member Terrence Trammell “Introduction to Coaching Hurdlers” Powered by Coach O

  2. 1d ago

    #388: Chris Richardson-Cerritos College | Becoming Uncommon

    How does someone who barely graduated high school become a college professor, head coach, author and podcast host? Cerritos College head track and field coach Chris Richardson joins Mike Cunningham to explain how coaches, second chances and growing self-awareness completely changed the direction of his life. Chris navigated special-education classes, dyslexia and ADD before arriving at Cerritos College with plans to become a police officer. Instead, he discovered that he could succeed academically—and that his athletic future might be found in ten events rather than one. After developing into a championship decathlete and transferring to Long Beach State, a serious knee injury forced Chris to reconsider where his journey was taking him. That setback became a doorway into coaching, education and a career devoted to developing athletes whom others may have overlooked. 🫶 The coach who bought Chris his first jumping spikes and continued believing in him 🔟 His unexpected introduction to the decathlon at Cerritos College 🧠 Going from special-education classes to earning advanced degrees 🏥 How a major knee injury redirected his athletic ambitions 🎓 Why Chris believes so strongly in the California community-college system 🦅 Helping overlooked athletes earn scholarships and reach NCAA championships 📖 Writing Coaching in the 21st Century 🎙️ Stepping outside his introverted comfort zone to launch Becoming Uncommon This conversation is about more than track and field. It is about recognizing your strengths, accepting when a path no longer fits and extending the same grace to others that someone once extended to you. Listen now and meet Coach Chris Richardson. Dive into nearly 400 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 Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

  3. 5d ago

    #253: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "How Long do Pole Vault Standards Last?"

    How long do pole vault standards last? For many programs, the answer is: much longer than expected. In this episode, Mike Cunningham explains why quality pole vault standards can often remain in service for decades—and why condition matters far more than age alone. Topics include: Why standards often outlast pits and other vault equipment The components that typically wear first Wheels, scales, adjustment hardware, and pegs Storage and environmental exposure Signs standards need maintenance or repair When replacement actually makes sense The goal is not to replace standards because they are old. The goal is to inspect their condition, maintain the components, and get the most safe, reliable service possible from the equipment.

    #253: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "How Long do Pole Vault Standards Last?"

  4. 6d ago

    #252: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Which Type of Pole Vault Standards are Right for Your Facility?"

    Which type of pole vault standards are right for your facility? The answer depends on far more than a model name or price tag. In this episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down how coaches can match their standards to the athletes, competition level, facility goals, and future plans of their program. Topics include: Developing programs versus high school, collegiate, and elite facilities Minimum and maximum adjustment ranges NFHS and NCAA peg considerations Standard base pad compatibility Daily usability, durability, and replacement parts Branding and long-term facility planning The best standards are not universally “the best.” They are the standards that best serve your athletes and facility over the next decade.

    #252: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Which Type of Pole Vault Standards are Right for Your Facility?"

  5. Nov 3

    #251: Gill1918 Presents Coach & Author Dave Emeott “Winning is Hard/Parents are Crazy” Powered by Coach O

    Originally recorded as two separate short episodes, we combined them to get your November started with a Double Shot of Emeott! Dave is a highly successful high school coach with 9 state titles, 14 consecutive regional wins, and a 100% graduation rate. He is also the author of the highly-rated (4.9 out of 5 on Amazon) book Beyond the Finish Line: The Art of Transformational Coaching. The audio version, read by the author, is also now available! Note: This episode  was initially released in December, 2025. If you have something to share with our youth T&F coach audience, contact David Mitchell for more information.

    #251: Gill1918 Presents Coach & Author Dave Emeott “Winning is Hard/Parents are Crazy” Powered by Coach O

  6. Nov 2

    #387: Justin Anderson-Alabama State | Set Your GPS

    No coach checking on him. No teammates waiting at practice. No guarantee that the work would pay off. Justin Anderson kept training anyway. In this episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Alabama State University assistant coach Justin Anderson shares the remarkable journey that took him from Jacksonville, Florida, to a worn-down track in Great Bend, Kansas—and ultimately to the NCAA Division I Championships. After two years at Barton Community College, Justin returned home without his associate degree. He worked full-time, paid his own tuition and continued training alone while finishing school. His destination never changed: he wanted to become a Division I student-athlete. That discipline eventually carried him to Texas Southern University, the NCAA Championships and a coaching career built around helping athletes find a clearer path than the one he had to navigate. 🎯 Why every athlete and coach needs a destination programmed into their “GPS” 🏃 The reality of leaving Florida for junior college life in Great Bend, Kansas 💪 How Justin balanced full-time work, school and training without a team or coach 🏆 His journey from an unrecruited walk-on to the NCAA Division I Championships 🤝 Why his own difficult road inspired him to become the coach he once needed 📣 What recruiting teaches coaches about relationships, rejection and adapting to their environment 🎓 How mentors, trusted peers, clinics and speaking opportunities continue shaping his coaching 🔥 Why Justin is now “excited about getting them excited” at Alabama State This is a powerful conversation about discipline, accountability, personal growth and refusing to lose sight of the destination—even when the road takes an unexpected turn. Press PLAY and meet Coach Justin Anderson. Dive into nearly 400 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 Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

  7. Oct 29

    #250: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Pole Vault Standards Buying Guide"

    Buying pole vault standards involves much more than choosing two uprights to hold a crossbar. In this episode, Mike Cunningham walks through a practical buying guide for coaches and facility planners. Topics include minimum and maximum height range, NFHS and NCAA peg requirements, standard base pad compatibility, ease of movement, durability, maintenance, replacement parts, customization, and planning for future program growth. The right standards should support the athletes using your facility today while giving your program room to grow over the next decade.

    #250: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Pole Vault Standards Buying Guide"

  8. Oct 28

    #249: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "What Should Coaches Look for in Pole Vault Standards?"

    Pole vault standards influence every jump, every practice, and every competition—but they rarely receive the same attention as the landing system. In this episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down the factors coaches should consider before purchasing standards, including accuracy, ease of adjustment, visibility, durability, mobility, maintenance, replacement parts, and long-term value. A set of standards should not simply hold a crossbar. The right set should make practices more efficient, competitions easier to operate, and facility management simpler for years to come. What should coaches look for when buying pole vault standards? In this pod, Mike Cunningham discusses the details that matter most: accurate and readable scales, smooth adjustments, reliable locking systems, durable frames and wheels, maintenance needs, replacement-part availability, and long-term facility planning. The least expensive standards are not always the best long-term value. The best standards are the ones that work accurately and reliably every day—without becoming something coaches have to think about.

    #249: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "What Should Coaches Look for in Pole Vault Standards?"
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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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