The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast29 Jun

#369: Kevin Donner-Bucknell University | From $1,000 Stipend to 25 Years of Building a Championship Culture

Kevin Donner’s journey into coaching wasn’t planned—it was discovered.

From getting cut from baseball and stumbling into track, to turning down “real jobs” for a $1,000 stipend, to eventually leading Bucknell University for over two decades… this episode is a masterclass in passion, persistence, and program building.

Kevin walks through the pivotal moments that shaped his career—moments where he bet on coaching when logic said otherwise—and how those decisions ultimately led him to one of the most respected programs in the country.

Along the way, you’ll hear how culture is built from the ground up, what it really takes to sustain success, and why sometimes the best path is the one that makes the least sense on paper.

🔑 In this episode:🏃‍♂️ How getting cut from baseball led to a lifelong career in track & field💼 Turning down stable jobs for a $1,000 coaching opportunity🧠 Learning to coach multiple events with zero prior expertise🔧 Building programs from scratch at multiple stops🔥 Developing a “blue-collar misfit” culture that wins championships🏆 Taking over a legendary program and making it his own

👉Dive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coachinglegends such as BooSchexnayder and Dan Pfaff, DiljeetTaylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find uson Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Projectepisode, which airsTuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections PodcastNetwork.

📲 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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Episoder(972)

#235: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "The 5 Biggest Mistakes Schools Make When Buying a Pole Vault Pit!"

Most schools purchase a new pole vault pit only once every 10 to 20 years. Unfortunately, that lack of buying experience can lead to preventable—and expensive—mistakes.In this episode, Mike Cunningham...

24 Sep 14min

#234: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Can a Pole Vault Pit Be Repaired or Should It Be Replaced?"

Can an aging pole vault pit be repaired—or is it time to replace it?Many common problems, including small vinyl tears, worn hardware, damaged weather covers, and certain top-pad issues, can often be r...

23 Sep 13min

#233: Gill1918 Presents Cassandra Goodson “XC Race Strategy & Preparation” Powered by Coach O

Cassandra draws on her 19 years as an NCAA D1 XC/TF Coach and her personal experience as a D1 athlete to share lessons learned about cross country race strategy and the benefits of early preparation. ...

22 Sep 17min

#381: Jordon Andreassen-University of Missouri | From Small-Town Iowa to the SEC

Most coaches don't start their careers thinking they'll become college track & field coaches.In Episode 381 of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham sits down with University of Miss...

21 Sep 1h 44min

BONUS: BoSCA-Adam Schemm, UW-Parkside | The Road Ahead-Building an Athletic Strategic Plan

An exceptional organization, the Business of Small College Athletics (BoSCA), holds an annual convention attended by some of the most passionate hard working adminstrators in the country. Coming toget...

18 Sep 45min

#232: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "What is the Total Cost of Ownership of a Pole Vault Pit?"

The price on the quote tells you what a pole vault pit costs today. It does not tell you what the school may spend throughout its life.In this Gill1918 Project episode, Mike Cunningham explains how co...

17 Sep 12min

#231: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Should I Buy the Minimum Legal Pole Vault Pit or a Larger Pit?"

Should your school purchase the smallest legal pole vault pit—or invest in a larger landing system?In this Gill1918 Project episode, Mike Cunningham explains why meeting NFHS or NCAA minimum requireme...

16 Sep 10min

#230: Gill1918 Presents Dr. Alli Young "Successfully Coaching Athletes with ADHD” Powered by Coach O

Sports Psychiatrist Dr. Alli Young helps parents coaches, and sports organizations navigate the mental side of sport. In this episode, Dr. Alli highlights three potential issues when coaching or paren...

15 Sep 12min