From High Jump to High Performance: A Conversation with Brendan Wilkins 🏆

Join us as we sit down with Brendan Wilkins, Assistant Track & Field Coach at Quinnipiac University, to explore his unique journey from athlete to coach. Brendan shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including how his mentor, Ethan Brown, introduced him to the life-changing book The Upside of Stress by Dr. Kelly McGonigal—a book Brendan says "changed the direction of my career." Hear about Brendan's passion for helping athletes not only improve their physical performance but also their mindset toward stress, transforming challenges into opportunities. 🌟

Tune in for insights on athlete development, the power of mentorship, and the emotional highs and lows of coaching. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or sports enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on resilience and growth. 🚀

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) 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 mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

Originally published March 18th, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!

We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!

We welcome Joe Lee, head coach of Bullis School, back to the Gill podcast to discuss his experience at the Paris24 Olympic Games. Joe is the coach of 400m runner Quincy Wilson. This is his third time on the podcast, be sure to go back and listen to his first episode where we learn his journey in this great profession and his second episode where we discuss the Olympic Trials and his qualifying for the Olympic Games.

This week Joe sits down to talk about the process of physically going to the Games (travel, schedule, practice and more) and walks us through the decision making and controversy of the Mixed 4x400m relay and the men's 4x400m relay. Joe doesn't hold back as he shares his insights into how they learned Quincy wouldn't be running the Mixed 4x400m relay, the consequences of that decision, and the mental state of athlete and coach as they prepared for a potential leg on the men's 4x400m relay event.

You've heard the stories and the rumors on social media now hear it directly from the coach of the high school national record holder in the 400m dash and the youngest member of the men's Olympic track team ever as he gives us an inside peak into his experience at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 300 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) 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 mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

Originally published March 15h, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!

We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!

In this special solo episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, host Mike Cunningham shifts gears to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the often-unsung heroes of track and field: the coaches. Join Mike as he pays tribute to the incredible coaches who guided their athletes to Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. From sprints to jumps, throws to distance events, this episode is dedicated to honoring the individuals behind the scenes who helped shape Olympic dreams into reality. Tune in for a heartfelt celebration of servant leadership, dedication, and the coaching excellence that fuels the world’s greatest athletes.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or fan of the sport, this episode is a reminder of the pivotal role coaches play in every Olympic performance.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) 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 mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

Originally published March 20, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!

We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!

In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we dive deep into the incredible journey of Brett Halter, head coach of the University of Missouri Track & Field team 🐯. From his unexpected start in coaching—after being asked by former Missouri head coach Dr. Rick McGuire, "You want to be a throws coach?"—to leading a powerhouse program, Halter's story is filled with insights and surprises.

Discover how a distance runner became a world-class throws coach, hear his thoughts on the SEC's ever-evolving challenges, and learn about his approach to building not just athletes, but leaders. We also explore some behind-the-scenes moments with standout athletes like Christian Cantwell and Karissa Schweitzer, and discuss the future of Missouri's track and field program with its new world-class facilities.

Coach Halter shares wisdom on coaching philosophy, program development, and the values that drive him and his team toward success. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or track and field enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiring stories. 🏃‍♂️💥

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) 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 mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

Originally published February 4th, 2020, we're bringing back our OG guests to uplift and honor the trust and courage they had to be our very first guests!

We're publishing the first 10 Gill Connections Podcast guests EVER each Thursday from Aug 29th until Oct 31st. ENJOY!