#330: Curtis Taylor-University of Oregon | From Oakland Hoops to Sprint Coaching Greatness
The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast29 Sep 2025

#330: Curtis Taylor-University of Oregon | From Oakland Hoops to Sprint Coaching Greatness

From the basketball courts of Oakland to the sprint lanes of Eugene, Curtis Taylor’s coaching journey is as inspiring as it is impactful. In this episode, Curtis shares how being cut from varsity basketball led him to track and eventually to a career shaping some of the nation’s fastest athletes at the University of Oregon.


We dive deep into:

  • 🏀 Growing up in Oakland’s basketball culture before discovering track

  • 🎓 Lessons from UC Davis, kinesiology, and the science of coaching

  • 🏆 Building East Oakland track programs with community support

  • 👟 Mentorship from the legendary Tony Wells

  • 🎯 Goal-setting and athlete accountability at Oregon

  • 🌍 Busting myths about recruiting and development in Power Four programs


💬 “You’ve got to figure out the WHY of everything you’re doing. If you can’t explain the why, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.” – Curtis Taylor


🌟 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 Tuesdays through Sundays. 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! 🎧👍

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