The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast5 Tammi

#344: Mo Saatara – University of Texas | From War-Torn Childhood to World Record Throws

Join us as we kick off Season 7 of the Gill Connections podcast as we welcome newly named Univ of Texas throws coach Mo Saatara to the show.

From surviving a revolution to shaping world champions — Mo Saatara’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

In this episode, Mo shares how his journey from Iran to Northern Arizona, Michigan, Cal Berkeley, and now Texas has shaped him as both coach and person. He reflects on losing his job through no fault of his own, guiding world champion hammer thrower Camryn Rogers, and now leading the throws program for one of the nation’s premier track & field teams. 🧠💪

✨ Highlights:

🧭 Life lessons from a revolution and how they shaped his coaching resilience

🧱 Building team culture at Michigan and Cal Berkeley

🎯 Coaching Cameron Rogers to world and North American records

🧠 Why great coaches focus on an athlete’s strengths, not their weaknesses

🔥 Inside the mindset of elite throwers and what separates pros from collegians

🏆 The move to Texas — stability, support, and the pursuit of championships

“When you’re in the fire, you either stand still and get burned, or you roll down the hill, scrape yourself up, and live to keep going.” — Mo Saatara

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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 YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

🎙️ 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! 🎧👍

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#137: Gill1918 Presents Sports Dietitian Maddie Riley “Tackling Tummy Troubles” Powered by Coach O

Maddie is an internationally recognized sports dietitian on a mission to get science-backed nutrition information into the hands of coaches, parents, and athletes. She was a D1 runner who went on to b...

7 Huhti 12min

#357: Evan Gerish-Univ of Dubuque | 92 is 50% of 99

Evan Gerish didn’t take the traditional path to becoming a college coach… and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so powerful.From a kid racing his uncle in the driveway… to a self-made hurdle...

6 Huhti 1h 59min

#136: Gill1918 presents Sammy Dabbs "Intermediate Hurdles Part 2" from Tampa Bay/USF Clinic

The crew at the University of South Florida put on an excellent clinic in Tampa, Fla this past fall of 2025. Speakers included Sammy Dabbs, Erik Jenkins, Vince Anderson, Chris Korfist, and Dwight Phil...

2 Huhti 35min

#135: Gill1918 presents Sammy Dabbs "Intermediate Hurdles Part 1" from Tampa Bay/USF Clinic

1 Huhti 28min

#134: Gill1918 Presents Coach/Meet Director Steve Stowe "Celebrate Athletes While They're Young” Powered by Coach O

Steve is the creative force behind @Speedy_Sto on IG where his weekly U12 T&F Rankings are published. He's also the meet director of The Speedy Sto Rankings Showcase each May in High Point, NC. Steve ...

31 Maalis 8min

#356: Nate Browne-UC Riverside | From Subprime Mortgages to Coaching Champions

Nate Browne didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a Division I head coach. He grew up racing cousins in a church parking lot in Iowa. He chased a scholarship. He switched from the 400m to the 800m and f...

30 Maalis 1h 54min