Finding Your Why: The Journey from College to High School Coaching 🏃‍♂️🏫

In this episode of the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast, we dive deep into the career transitions of former collegiate track and field coaches who have made the move to the high school level. 🏃‍♂️🏫 Our panel features Corey Mistretta and Sean Brady of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, and Bryan Fetzer, former athletic director of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, each with an impressive college coaching background (Mississippi State, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas A&M, and more). Together, they bust the myth that college coaching is the pinnacle of the profession and shed light on the many rewards of working in high school athletics. 💡

Throughout the conversation, we explore the reasons behind their transitions, the challenges and opportunities of high school coaching, and most importantly, the need to understand your "why" as a coach. As Corey Mistretta puts it, **"The first thing you have to do is know your why."** 🧠❤️ This episode is a must-listen for college coaches considering a move to high school, or anyone curious about the different paths in coaching track and field. 🎧

Join us as we discuss the realities of finding balance ⚖️, adjusting expectations, and continuing to shape athletes' lives, no matter the level. 🌱 Whether you're on the college or high school track, this episode will provide valuable insights and perspective. Tune in for a raw, thoughtful conversation that may just change the way you think about coaching. 🔥

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

🎙️ The Road to Success: Breaking Barriers in College Athletics with FSU's Matt Kane 🏃‍♂️🏆

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Kane, head coach of Florida State University, to talk about the ins and outs of recruiting, developing, and shaping athletes at the collegiate level. We dive into the challenges of competing for in-state talent, his experiences at Barton College, and the significance of mentorship and leadership in coaching.

Matt shares compelling stories from his career, including his work with world-class athletes, the excitement of coaching in the World Championships, and the valuable lessons learned from his time across different institutions. We also cover the growing culture of college transfers and why, in Matt's words, “It's ok to break up with your girlfriend”—a powerful analogy for athletes deciding to transfer schools for better opportunities.

💡 Whether you're an athlete, coach, or track enthusiast, this episode offers deep insights into the world of track and field, college athletics, and the human side of coaching.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into over 250 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

BONUS material from the Hey dude! What's up man? Podcast. Coaches Julia Abell and Wendell McCraven share a lesson learned from McCraven's college coach the Hall of Famer Al Carius. The Emotional Water Bottle will help you in your career and that's why we wanted to share it with you. ENJOY!

Here's their original episode description, go over and subscribe to their podcast, you won't regret it: Every wonder why you feel like things are going well in training and then "all the sudden" you are tired and drained? That is the classic 3 week catch up combined with The Emotional Water Bottle Theory. Listen to this week's episode to find out what these two things are! 🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 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) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍