The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Building From Scratch: The Power of Grit with John Boisette, Head Coach at West Virginia State University 🐝🏃‍♂️

What does it take to build a college track & field program from literally nothing? This week, we sit down with John Boisette, Head Coach of West Virginia State University, who’s doing exactly that — and doing it with passion, creativity, and a little bit of boxing mentality.

👊 From his days as a young boxer in Connecticut

📈 To becoming the first male in his family to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree

🏃‍♂️ To rebuilding WVSU's track program brick by brick (without a track!)

💡 Why he tells one athlete "you're a waste of talent" (and why it works!)

🎯 The lessons he learned from mentors like Boo Schexnayder, Jeremy Fischer, and Kebba Tolbert (all three Gill Podcast alums!)

🛠️ How creativity + fundamentals = coaching excellence

🚧 The dream of bringing a track facility to WVSU

Coach Boisette’s journey is a masterclass in leadership, perseverance, and believing in athletes even when the resources aren’t there.

“The opportunity I get might be the ONLY opportunity I get!” — John Boisette

🌟 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 every Tuesday through Sunday. 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! 🎧👍