🎙️ Welcome back to the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast! Today, we’re thrilled to bring you an inspiring conversation with Tristan Smith 🏆, Head Coach of St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, Massachusetts 🌟. Tristan joins us to talk about his journey into coaching – from his own high school days discovering the hurdles 🏃‍♂️ to leading his team across all seasons of cross country, indoor, and outdoor track!

Nominated by an admirer he’s never met, Tristan represents the incredible impact coaches can have on the lives of young athletes 🌱. Hear how he combines his love of the sport with his professional ambitions in law ⚖️ and what keeps him coming back to coach each season. From inspiring his student-athletes to building a positive team culture, Tristan’s story is full of dedication and heart.

Tune in for another episode celebrating the people who bring track and field to life, and who knows? You might even be inspired to start coaching yourself!

🌟 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! 🎧👍

Tonight at the USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Fla the Class of 2024 Hall of Fame class is inducted. An important member of this class is former Ashland University head coach Jud Logan, the Light Giver himself. Mr. Olympian4x touched so many lives around the world with his love, warmth, and belief. We were honored to have him on the Gill Connections podcast before he passed away. As a way to honor his memory and celebrate his Hall of Fame induction, we re-publish his interview with Mike Cunningham. ENJOY!

"Dear AU Team: it is meet week. Please act accordingly. And by accordingly, I mean reckless, passionate and with abundant vigor." -Coach Logan

🎙️ The Power of Integration: Andreas Behm on Coaching, Mentorship, and Building ALTIS 🎙️

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Andreas Behm, Vice President of Performance at ALTIS, a world-renowned track and field training center. Andreas shares his fascinating journey from Germany to the U.S., discussing how he discovered a love for coaching through an unexpected start in sport management. We dive into his experiences working with elite athletes like Aries Merritt, and his involvement in building ALTIS into a global hub for track and field athletes and coaches.

Andreas also reflects on the mentorship and wisdom he's gained from coaching legends such as Dan Pfaff, Boo Schexnayder, Dana Boone, Brooks Johnson, and John Godina—all of whom have been featured guests on the *Gill Connections* podcast (each name is hyperlinked to go to their specific episode--CHECK THEM OUT!). Throughout the conversation, Andreas emphasizes the importance of mentorship, patience, and continually evolving as a coach.

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at Andreas' unique coaching philosophy and the incredible work he's doing to help both athletes and coaches achieve excellence. 🚀

💡 Don’t miss this deep dive into one of track and field’s most respected coaching minds!

🌟 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! 🎧👍