Micheal "Coach Welly" Wellington has coached hurdlers of all ages and skill levels from youth beginners to elite athletes. Over the past 25 years, he has refined his coaching system into what he calls Foundational Hurdling which includes the Four Components of Good Hurdling he shares with us here. He's also co-owner of Two8 Bands. Learn about his ongoing work and his July 18-19, 2026 Hurdle Hero camp HERE, find him on IG & YouTube (CoachWelly), or reach out via EMAIL with questions.

If you have a topic you'd love to share, contact David Mitchell to learn more.

Kevin Donner’s journey into coaching wasn’t planned—it was discovered.

From getting cut from baseball and stumbling into track, to turning down “real jobs” for a $1,000 stipend, to eventually leading Bucknell University for over two decades… this episode is a masterclass in passion, persistence, and program building.

Kevin walks through the pivotal moments that shaped his career—moments where he bet on coaching when logic said otherwise—and how those decisions ultimately led him to one of the most respected programs in the country.

Along the way, you’ll hear how culture is built from the ground up, what it really takes to sustain success, and why sometimes the best path is the one that makes the least sense on paper.

🔑 In this episode:🏃‍♂️ How getting cut from baseball led to a lifelong career in track & field💼 Turning down stable jobs for a $1,000 coaching opportunity🧠 Learning to coach multiple events with zero prior expertise🔧 Building programs from scratch at multiple stops🔥 Developing a “blue-collar misfit” culture that wins championships🏆 Taking over a legendary program and making it his own

👉Dive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coachinglegends such as BooSchexnayder and Dan Pfaff, DiljeetTaylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find uson Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:
Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Projectepisode, which airsTuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections PodcastNetwork.

📲 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! 🎧👍

I'm throwing a birthday party for myself and YOU'RE INVITED! My friends at Glazier Clinics are hosting a FREE Virtual Track and Field Clinic with some of the best coaches around (BYU, TCU, Under Armour, and more!) on July 24 and 25 and I want you to be there.

Register here: ⁠https://hubs.ly/Q04mV2Pd0Share it with a friend!

To help you see the quality of these presentations, and to celebrate the upcoming July clinic, here is the first part of one of the presentations from December. If you want to watch the full presentation go to Glazier Drive: ⁠https://production.glazierdrive.com/library

I'm throwing a birthday party for myself and YOU'RE INVITED! My friends at Glazier Clinics are hosting a FREE Virtual Track and Field Clinic with some of the best coaches around (BYU, TCU, Under Armour, and more!) on July 24 and 25 and I want you to be there.

Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04mV2Pd0Share it with a friend!

To help you see the quality of these presentations, and to celebrate the upcoming July clinic, here is the first part of one of the presentations from December. If you want to watch the full presentation go to Glazier Drive: https://production.glazierdrive.com/library

In this episode, Matthew Kleinosky sits down with legendary coach and running personality Duane “Peanut” Harms, whose remarkable journey spans more than five decades in the sport. From discovering running almost by accident as a high school baseball player to coaching national teams, helping launch HOKA, and shaping generations of athletes, Peanut shares stories that are equal parts inspiring, hilarious, and unforgettable.

Memorable Quotes

“The path to success was not thinking about the immensity of the task. It was just to embark.”

“The greatest honor is when kids continue to run after they leave your program.”

“You coach the kids you get.”

“There might be part-time pay, but there is no part-time coaching.”

“I know I've impacted a lot of people positively, and hopefully they pass that along.”

Key Takeaways

Mentorship can completely alter the trajectory of a young person's life.

Great coaching is about developing people, not simply producing results.

Lifelong participation matters more than short-term success.

Multi-sport experiences create stronger athletes and more well-rounded people.

Running communities thrive when competition and fun coexist.

Success often begins by simply taking the first step and getting started.

Listen & Subscribe

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with fellow runners and fans of running history.

Running in the ’70s with Matthew Kleinosky explores the stories, people, and culture that helped shape the running boom and continue to inspire runners today.

This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!

This past February, the great people of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association held their annual Track/Field clinic with amazing speakers. WISTCA has graciously allowed us to share these speaker's topics on the Gill1918 Project. ENJOY!

Jesse is the founder of CoachingDistance.com and was the high school coach of Simeon Birnbaum, the NCAA 1500m Record Holder and 2026 1500m Champion for the Oregon Ducks. Jesse is passionate about continually learning the craft of coaching distance and then sharing what he's learned with others. He coaches today at Rapid City Stevens HS in SD. Jesse and his wife Dr. Whitnee Coy are the founders of the Go Far Foundation to help kids and families. In just a few months, they've already distributed over 18,000 items via their food pantry. You can follow Jesse on X and IG (@CoachDistance).

If you have a topic to share, contact David Mitchell to learn more.