#309: Dana Jaster-Waunakee (WI) High School

#309: Dana Jaster-Waunakee (WI) High School

🎙️ From Sawdust to Stadiums: The High Jump Journey of Dana Jaster


This week’s guest is more than just a high jump coach—he's a living legacy of resilience, joy, and lifelong impact. Meet Dana Jaster, the high jump coach at Waunakee High School (WI), a Paralympian, and a coach whose influence spans decades and generations.


🔥 In This Episode:


🪵 Throwback to sawdust pits and the birth of the Fosbury Flop


🦿 How Dana went from high school high jumper to Paralympian at the 1992 Barcelona Games


🧰 Coaching philosophy rooted in joy, personal records, and deep relationships


🧑‍🏫 The transition from California’s tech scene to small-town Wisconsin coaching


🧠 Adapting coaching styles across decades and tech-driven generations


💜 Why fun is a non-negotiable in Dana’s coaching—and how it unlocks hidden potential


🎤 “The legacy I want is for some kid, when they’re 50 years old, to say: ‘Coach Jaster was the best.’”

— Dana Jaster


Coach Jaster’s story is an inspiring reminder that coaching is less about X's and O's and more about showing up with heart, consistency, and belief in young people. From sawdust landings to stadium roars in Barcelona, Dana’s journey is one-of-a-kind—and it’s still going strong.


🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 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), 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 every Tuesday through Sunday. 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! 🎧👍


Jaksot(827)

#19: Hassaan Stamps-East Tennessee State University

#19: Hassaan Stamps-East Tennessee State University

Hassaan is the assistant track coach for sprints, hurdles, and relays at ETSU for the past 7 seasons. In today's episode, Hassaan takes us back to his days in the famed Quicksilver Track Club as well ...

1 Huhti 20201h 49min

#18: Arthur "Iggy" Ignaczak-Stanford University

#18: Arthur "Iggy" Ignaczak-Stanford University

You do NOT want to miss this episode! Today you'll hear about the importance of second chances and what a coach can do to turn around someone's life. Iggy is in his first year as the assistant coach ...

31 Maalis 20201h 17min

#17: Ernie Clark-Ashland University

#17: Ernie Clark-Ashland University

Ernie is the associate head coach for the Eagles of Ashland and a total hurdle fanatic. Growing up running the hurdles in high school and college, he has become one of the top college hurdle coaches a...

27 Maalis 20201h 30min

#16: Lamont Johnson-Johnson C Smith University

#16: Lamont Johnson-Johnson C Smith University

Lamont Johnson is the head coach of Johnson C. Smith University for the past two seasons. He has a long varied career path that you are going to find unique. We had a lot of fun, so much fun that we s...

26 Maalis 20202h 18min

#15: DJ Hicks-Houston Baptist University

#15: DJ Hicks-Houston Baptist University

DJ is the assistant coach at his alma mater Houston Baptist University in charge of sprints, hurdles, and relays.  He is really ingrained into the Houston track scene as he ran high school track in th...

25 Maalis 202058min

#14: Houston Franks-LSU

#14: Houston Franks-LSU

Houston is in his first year at LSU as the head cross country coach after coaching several years at his alma mater Mississippi State. Success has followed Houston at every stop of his career and it's...

24 Maalis 20201h 6min

#13: Chris Parno-Minnesota State

#13: Chris Parno-Minnesota State

One of the many benefits to doing a podcast such as this is learning about the lives of new and interesting people. Chris fits this category perfectly. You'll see quickly this young coach has a long p...

23 Maalis 20201h 3min

#12: Dave Anderson-Bentonville West High School

#12: Dave Anderson-Bentonville West High School

Great time with a great coach who has spent 39 years coaching high school athletes and continues to do so today. You'll enjoy learning Dave's career journey and even his personal athletic experiences.

22 Maalis 20201h 2min

Suosittua kategoriassa Urheilu

hockey-night-podcast
eturivi
kimanttia
urheilun-varjoissa
kaiken-takana
suomen-f1-podcast
rss-235-podcast
junnut-pelissa
runners-high-podcast
rss-voimavalmennus
rss-kaukaan-paaty
ohjissa
juosten-kahville
rss-xc-party-podcast
rss-rakkaudesta-lajiin
rss-kuralappa-asiaa-gravel-ja-maastopyorailysta
rss-ylilyonti
rss-kuninkuusluokka-f1-podcast
rss-liiga-fm
rss-vuoroveto-podcast