#319: Antonio Wells-Winston Salem State University

🎙️ From Wrestling Mats to Track Dominance: The Journey of Coach Antonio Wells

This week on the Gill Connections podcast, we're heading to North Carolina to meet a man who brings grit, grace, and grounded leadership to the world of track and field: Antonio Wells, head coach at Winston-Salem State University. From his early days wrestling in rural Georgia to leading a rising DII program, Antonio's journey is filled with determination, humility, and passion for the student-athlete experience.

In this powerful episode, you'll hear:

🤼 How wrestling shaped his toughness and mental approach

🧬 Why a biology degree and dreams of pediatrics led him to coaching

💼 Lessons learned from Bass Pro Shops to NCAA Division I sidelines

🎓 The impact of HBCUs on his personal and professional growth

🤝 The power of mentors like Tyree Price and Coach O'Kelly

💪 What it takes to lead a program through adversity and rebuild with vision

🧠 Why being a student of the sport matters more than ever

🗣️ How he's building a culture of belief and stability at WSSU

📢 🎧 Commercial Break – The Gill1918 Project

Don't miss our educational podcast series: The Gill1918 Project. It’s the TED Talks of track & field coaching — short, insightful episodes by coaches, for coaches. Perfect for your ride home or pre-meet inspiration!

💬 "Being a head coach isn’t just about the workouts — it’s about creating stability and showing athletes they matter." – Antonio Wells

Whether you're an aspiring coach, a fan of track and field, or simply someone who loves a great comeback story, this episode is for you.

👟 Tune in now to be inspired by Coach Wells’ resilience, honesty, and vision for the future of WSSU Track & Field.

🌟 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.

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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! 🎧👍