#323: Anne Cleary – Iowa Central Community College | From Heptathlete to Leader of Many Hats

🎙️ **From PR Dreams to Coaching Reality: A Track Journey Rooted in Purpose**

In this episode of the Gill Connections podcast, we sit down with a coach whose story starts in Vermillion, South Dakota, winds through the world of public relations, and finds a calling in the multi-events of track and field. Help us welcome the wise the wonderful Anne Cleary!

From her time as a heptathlete at Central Missouri to discovering a deeper passion for mentoring young people, this episode is filled with lessons on adaptability, values, and the power of purpose-driven leadership.

🔑 **In this episode:**

* 🏠 Growing up in Vermillion and the pull of small-town roots

* 🧭 The college decision-making process—why fit matters more than division level

* 📝 Starting in public relations before realizing coaching was the true calling

* 🏃‍♀️ Competing in multi-events and how that shaped her coaching perspective

* 🧑‍🏫 Learning to lead with empathy, mentorship, and servant leadership

* 📈 The role of mentorship in her journey and paying it forward with her athletes

> *"I thought I wanted the glamour of public relations. But once I got a taste of coaching, I realized—this is where I can make an impact." -Anne Cleary

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