In this thrilling episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we're recording on the cusp of the 2024 Olympic Trials, buzzing with excitement for the track-filled summer ahead. Join us as we dive into a vibrant conversation with the remarkable June Villers, head coach at Waxahachie High School in Texas. June's journey from a shy seventh grader to a revered track coach is nothing short of inspiring.

We discuss her roots, moving frequently as a child before landing in Texas where her passion for track was ignited. Pam DeBoard, her middle school PE teacher, and Brent Jones, her high school coach, played pivotal roles in her development. Their mentorship not only shaped her as an athlete but also inspired her to pursue coaching.

June shares invaluable insights from her early coaching days at Palmer, emphasizing the importance of learning all event disciplines and the necessity of effective time management. We explore her transition to North Mesquite and then back to her alma mater, DeSoto, where she assisted her former high school coach before eventually stepping into the head coach role. Her story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and a continuous quest for improvement.

Tune in to hear about her strategies for handling the pressures of head coaching, fostering a positive team culture, and her take on the evolving landscape of college recruiting. Whether you're a seasoned coach, an aspiring athlete, or a track and field enthusiast, June's experiences and wisdom are sure to inspire and enlighten. Don't miss this exciting episode filled with passion, dedication, and the love for the sport!

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Sean Carlson of Univ of Tennessee, Dave Smith of Oklahoma State, Kyle Rutledge of Pitt State, 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! 🎧👍

We love to bring you new track and field podcasts that are being published. This week we feature Julia Abell and Wendell McCraven from Texas A&M as they begin their podcasting journey. After listening, give them a subscribe (and 5 star rating and review!)

In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, host Mike Cunningham 🎙️ sits down with Greg Skipper, owner and vice president of Skipper's Elite Athlete 🏆, an authorized dealer of Gill Athletics track and field equipment. Greg shares his journey in track and field, from his early days in Oregon City 🏙️ to becoming a hammer thrower 🥇 at the University of Oregon 🦆. He reflects on his collegiate experiences, balancing academics 📚 and athletics 🏋️‍♂️, and learning from legendary coaches like Lance Deal and Stuart Togher.

Greg discusses the origins of Skipper's Elite Athlete and how they navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic 🌐. He emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with coaches 🤝 and providing exceptional service, highlighted in his quote, "We provide a service to coaches from coaches." 🗣️

Tune in to hear Greg's insights on the evolving landscape of track and field, the significance of team culture 💪, and the future of Skipper's Elite Athlete 🚀. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or track and field enthusiast, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the sport and the business behind it.

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Sean Carlson of Univ of Tennessee, Dave Smith of Oklahoma State, Kyle Rutledge of Pitt State, 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! 🎧👍

National Business Development Manager Mike Cunningham recently was invite to the Manufacturer's Mindset podcast to talk about his work as a Biz Dev Manager in a US based manufacturer. He gives a behind the curtain look at some of the functions and benefits of being a sporting goods manufacturer as well as speaks on track coach and dealer network's value to the Gill brand.

Join host Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager for Gill Athletics, as he sits down with Emily Webb, the passionate Assistant Head Coach and Throws Coach for Niceville High School in Florida. Emily shares her journey into coaching, emphasizing the impact she strives to make on her athletes: "I wanted to be a coach that I didn't have." 🏋️‍♀️🥇

In this episode, Emily discusses her approach to developing young throwers, the importance of building a supportive team culture, and the challenges and rewards of coaching in the highly competitive world of high school track and field. 🚀🏆

Listen in to hear about her experiences, insights, and the dedication it takes to mold the next generation of athletes. Don't miss this inspiring conversation full of wisdom and passion for the sport! 🎯🌟

🎧 #GillConnections #TrackAndField #CoachingJourney #Inspiration #HighSchoolAthletics

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Sean Carlson of Univ of Tennessee, Dave Smith of Oklahoma State, Kyle Rutledge of Pitt State, 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! 🎧👍

🎙️ **Gill Connections Podcast - "Impressing at Every Turn with Jess Riden"**

**Host:** Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager

**Guest:** Jess Riden, Associate Director of Track and Field at the University of North Carolina

In this insightful episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham sits down with Jess Riden, the Associate Director of Track and Field at the University of North Carolina. Jess brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the operational side of collegiate track and field. 🏃‍♀️🎽

**Episode Highlights:**

1. **Housekeeping and Shoutouts** 📣:

- Mike starts with a shoutout to a listener's review, highlighting the success of the state meet qualifying podcast series.

2. **Introduction to Jess Riden** 🌟:

- Jess's impressive journey from Reedsville, Pennsylvania, to her current role at UNC.

- Her background as a multi-sport athlete in high school and her path to collegiate track and field.

3. **Role of a Director of Operations** 📋:

- Jess discusses her transition from sports journalism to sports information director roles at Bucknell and East Tennessee State before moving into operations.

- The evolution of her role at Penn State, Washington, Stanford, and now UNC.

- The importance of organization, communication, and creating a supportive environment for coaches and athletes.

4. **Challenges and Successes** 🏆:

- The complexity of managing large-scale meets and the intricacies of compliance, budget, and travel logistics.

- Jess shares anecdotes about significant meets and the behind-the-scenes efforts that ensure their success.

5. **Career Development and Leadership** 🌱:

- Jess emphasizes the significance of networking and continuous learning.

- Insights into how to maintain professionalism and advance in a career without necessarily moving into coaching.

- The role of mentorship and building strong relationships within the athletic department.

6. **Quote of the Episode** 💬:

- Jess's memorable quote, "You never know who you're going to impress," serves as a reminder of the importance of always putting your best foot forward.

7. **Looking Ahead** 🔮:

- Future goals and aspirations for Jess in her career.

- Advice for young professionals looking to enter the field of sports operations and management.

**Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jess Riden as she shares her journey, the importance of operational roles in collegiate sports, and how her leadership has made a lasting impact on track and field programs across the country.**

**Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to let us know what you think!**

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Sean Carlson of Univ of Tennessee, Dave Smith of Oklahoma State, Kyle Rutledge of Pitt State, 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! 🎧👍

A snapshot in time; republishing episode #22:

Originally this episode was published the first week of April in 2020, however the internet had other plans. Recently we were notified episode #22 featuring Nicole and Eric Kramer was taken down; that's right "they" took down this episode from all podcast apps and even YouTube. We have no idea why, but we know we won't let "them" win, so we are republishing their story because their journey matters.

So proud of Nicole and Eric for joining us on the podcast, they were our first married couple coaches to do so. We've since had several other married coaches join us including Michelle Clayton and Marc Davis from TROY and Yvonne and Larry Wade formerly of UNLV.

You'll have to remember this episode was recorded in 2020 and the Gill Connections podcast has certainly grown in quality (audio, editing, etc) since then, however we weren't going to let that stop us from making sure their story lives out there for future coaches to hear and learn from.

ENJOY!

🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Boo Schexnayder of LSU, Diljeet Taylor of BYU, Petros Kyprianou of Illinois, and many more! Find us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts 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! 🎧👍

Today's bonus episode is a recording of a talk with QnA from Young Harris College's Leadership Academy featuring Gill National Business Development Manager Mike Cunningham. Mike speaks to future leaders who currently participate in a sport at YHC. Mike speaks on social media, podcasting, networking and leadership. You won't believe what he says about GOLF?!?!

ENJOY!