Tanya is Founder & CEO of Sportspreneurs-A Division of Activate International and a Coach O Ambassador. She is our presenter for this, the first episode in the Youth and Beginner Series Powered by Coach O. If you’d like to contribute an episode, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact David Mitchell at clientrelations@coacho.com to learn more about how you can get involved and/or to give feedback about this exciting new series within the Gill1918 Project.
Jul 08, 2025•19 min
🎙️ From Hurdles to Healing: The Resilient Journey of Lewis Edmonson In this inspiring episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, we sit down with Lewis Edmonson, head track coach at Hearne High School (TX). From growing up racing his dad in the street to winning conference titles at Prairie View A&M, Lewis shares his deeply personal and powerful journey—one filled with competitive fire, coaching passion, and life-altering experiences. 🔥 In this episode, we explore: 🧠 How a coach’s role exte...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 58 min•Season 6Ep. 318
Adam joins us to talk about the Psychology of Coaching by Thomas Tutko and Jack Richards. Hear how this book has helped him grow as a coach and a person. Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears D...
Jul 04, 2025•18 min
We love to spread the love here at the Gill Connections podcast, therefore today we present to you the URAVGCOACH podcast featuring Anthony Woods. Coach Woods is on a mission to become the best high school sprint coach in Illinois. In an effort to accomplish this lofty goal he's started an interview podcast featuring other coaches that he (and you!) can learn from. His first episode featured his rival Tony Holler and his second episode presented here featured our National Business Development Ma...
Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
Jul 02, 2025•10 min
🎙️ Dr. Jim Patchell: From Hurdler to Head Coach & PhD – The Arkansas State Story 📚🎓 From dissecting regression equations to mastering the hurdles, Dr. Jim Patchell’s journey is anything but conventional. As the head coach of Arkansas State University—and an alum himself—Dr. Patchell brings a powerful blend of academic insight, coaching wisdom, and personal authenticity to this episode. 👟 Tune in as we explore: 🧠 His PhD in kinesiology and how it shaped his coaching lens 📘 Buying the le...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 317
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
Jun 27, 2025•17 min
🎙️ From Colombia to Coaching in Maine (via a Bike Ride Across Continents!) On this week's Gill Connections podcast, we sit down with Pablo Espitia, assistant track & field coach at the University of Maine, whose story is anything but typical. In this episode, we dive into: 🌎 Pablo’s multicultural upbringing and how sports differ in Colombia vs. the U.S. 👟 How he went from shy high school freshman to standout collegiate jumper at FIU 💬 The power of a coach learning your name — even when y...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 55 min•Season 6Ep. 316
Trying something new, as we bring you REAL TIME on the field (and track) interviews from the Nike Outdoor National HS Championships. Gill Athletics and Beynon Sports Surfacing is proud to sponsor Saturday's Coaches Social at NON. Coaches were able to have a free lunch on us and grab a few door prizes (neck fans, gateboards, wristbands, sunglasses, and more!) 🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Tay...
Jun 23, 2025•29 min
Trying something new, as we bring you REAL TIME on the field (and track) interviews from the Nike Outdoor National HS Championships. Gill Athletics and Beynon Sports Surfacing is proud to sponsor Saturday's Coaches Social at NON. Coaches were able to have a free lunch on us and grab a few door prizes (neck fans, gateboards, wristbands, sunglasses, and more!) Check back tomorrow for Day 4! 🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexna...
Jun 22, 2025•32 min
Trying something new, as we bring you REAL TIME on the field (and track) interviews from the Nike Outdoor National HS Championships. Gill Athletics is proud to sponsor Friday's Coaches Social at NON. Coaches were able to have a free lunch on us and grab a few door prizes (neck fans, gateboards, wristbands, sunglasses, and more!) Check back tomorrow for Day 3! 🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Ta...
Jun 21, 2025•12 min
Trying something new, as we bring you REAL TIME on the field (and track) interviews from the Nike Outdoor National HS Championships. Gill Athletics and MF Athletic is proud to sponsor Thursday's Coach's Social at NON. Coach's were able to have a free lunch on us and grab a few door prizes (neck fans, gateboards, wristbands, sunglasses, and more!) Check back tomorrow for Day 2! 🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan...
Jun 19, 2025•21 min
🎙️ From Reluctant Runner to Rising Leader: Paris Vaughan’s Coaching Journey In this episode, we sit down with Paris Vaughan, the interim head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University, whose story is anything but ordinary. From dodging distance events as a middle schooler to building one of DII’s most competitive programs, Paris takes us through the personal twists, hurdles (literally), and growth that brought him to this moment. 🔥 What you'll hear: 🏃♂️ How a self-proclaimed “extroverted introvert” f...
Jun 16, 2025•2 hr 7 min•Season 6Ep. 315
🎙️ "Our Job Is to Teach" — Jim Vahrenkamp, University of North Dakota From a childhood of tagging along to practices to leading a D1 program, Jim Vahrenkamp’s coaching journey is one of relentless curiosity, purposeful growth, and staying true to the educator's heart. In this episode, Jim shares how being raised by a coach shaped his mindset, what academic failure taught him about accountability, and why leadership—at every level—matters. 💡 In This Episode 🧠 “As coaches, our job is to teach.”...
Jun 09, 2025•2 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 312
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
Jun 07, 2025•20 min
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
Jun 06, 2025•17 min
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
Jun 04, 2025•15 min
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
Jun 03, 2025•12 min
🎙️ "We Can't Be Great in April and Mediocre in May" – Chad Blank, Clarinda HS (IA) This week’s guest is more than a coach — he’s a track guy, a school counselor, and a leadership cultivator in small-town Iowa. Meet Chad Blank, head coach at Clarinda High School, who blends rural grit, Mike Tomlin inspiration, and student-centered mentorship to build a team culture that peaks when it matters most. 🔑 In this episode: 🧠 Why leadership must be taught — not just expected 🔥 How Mike Tomlin’s quote...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Season 6Ep. 313
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
May 30, 2025•23 min
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
May 29, 2025•13 min
• Dr. Simone Erdner's website: DearCoachBook.com • Free eBook download of Dear Coach • The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by Bell Hooks *** Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAI...
May 28, 2025•26 min
• Dr. Simone Erdner's website: DearCoachBook.com • Free eBook download of Dear Coach • The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by Bell Hooks *** Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAI...
May 27, 2025•22 min
🎧 "Amalgamation of Greatness" with Colin Hunter 📍 Byron Center, MI | Head Coach & Engineering Teacher From robot design to relay strategy, Colin Hunter's journey into coaching is anything but typical. A former engineer and homeschooled football lineman, Colin shares how his love for running, passion for people, and relentless curiosity led him to lead one of Michigan’s rising high school track programs. 🔑 In this episode: 🏃♂️ From 2:40 marathoner to pole vault coach—with no track backgr...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Season 6Ep. 312
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
May 25, 2025•7 min
Jeff presents another podcast that goes over how to coach high jump at meets. Covers things like how to warm up properly, pick starting heights, create and use effective cues, handle athletes in running events while jumping, and keeping track of misses. Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goa...
May 24, 2025•14 min
5. THE LAST / FINAL STEP OF THE LJ APPROACH A. Put the T/O foot down FLAT on to the T/O board. Not on your toe: not with the heel first....FLAT !!! B. Maintain a PERPENDICULAR POSTURE throughout this part of the jump. C. DO NOT have a full cycle of the T/O leg ( last step ) as you place it on the board. Simply scoot the leg through and put the foot down. D. The T/O STEP is the SHORTEST STEP / STRIDE in the LJ Approach. 6. THE TAKE OFF A. The upper body must remain a PERPENDICULAR posture to and ...
May 23, 2025•22 min
3. THE RUNWAY A. The entire length of the approach must go from SLOW to FAST. The fastest part occuring at the moment of Take Off ( T/O ). B. The RHYTHM of the approach should be smooth, consistent and maintained throughout the entire approach. C. COUNTING ( out loud or to yourself ) can greatly assist in developing the above stated RHYTHM. D. While correct Sprint Mechanics must strive for perfection during the approach, an ' elastic loading ' ( or SPLITS ) must occur on each successive stride. ...
May 22, 2025•19 min
Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears. Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, str...
May 21, 2025•15 min
The APPROACH and the TAKE OFF in the Long Jump (LJ) accounts for 90-95% of how success will be measured in this event!! Hence, developing a consistent, correct and simplified runway approach and take off are critical components of any LJ training program. A full and complete understanding and development of the following " 7 Points of LJ Excellence ", will set both the athlete and coach on a path toward high level success in this event. SECONDARY INTRODUCTION The following 3 statements / facts m...
May 21, 2025•20 min
