#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

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📲 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! 🎧👍