#308: John Boisette-West Virginia State University

Building From Scratch: The Power of Grit with John Boisette, Head Coach at West Virginia State University 🐝🏃‍♂️

What does it take to build a college track & field program from literally nothing? This week, we sit down with John Boisette, Head Coach of West Virginia State University, who’s doing exactly that — and doing it with passion, creativity, and a little bit of boxing mentality.

👊 From his days as a young boxer in Connecticut

📈 To becoming the first male in his family to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree

🏃‍♂️ To rebuilding WVSU's track program brick by brick (without a track!)

💡 Why he tells one athlete "you're a waste of talent" (and why it works!)

🎯 The lessons he learned from mentors like Boo Schexnayder, Jeremy Fischer, and Kebba Tolbert (all three Gill Podcast alums!)

🛠️ How creativity + fundamentals = coaching excellence

🚧 The dream of bringing a track facility to WVSU

Coach Boisette’s journey is a masterclass in leadership, perseverance, and believing in athletes even when the resources aren’t there.

“The opportunity I get might be the ONLY opportunity I get!” — John Boisette

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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! 🎧👍