The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

From Olive Branch to Mississippi State, from the decathlon to photography, and from volunteering to his first official role at Montevallo—Coach Jaquarius Wilson’s journey has been anything but linear. In this episode, he opens up about how faith, family, and mentors like JJ Downs (Gill podcast alum!) and Steve Thomas shaped his path into coaching and beyond.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

📸 How photography and personal training unexpectedly opened doors into coaching

🏃‍♂️ Lessons from being a 7,000+ point decathlete and how they shaped his coaching philosophy

🎓 The impact of mentors and why informal learning can be just as powerful as formal education

💡 The role of mindset and culture in changing a team’s trajectory

🏆 Why coaching is about more than workouts—it’s about relationships and impact

💬 “All I ask is your best effort. If you can honestly say you gave your all, then as your coach, I’m good. Because what more can I ask for?” – Jaquarius Wilson

🌟 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! 🎧👍