The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

What happens when a kid who raced his principal in 5th grade grows into the head coach of the Blazing Trojans? In this episode, Mike sits down with Joseph Tooks, the energetic and intentional girls’ head coach at Bloom Township High School — a coach who blends mass-communication savvy, lived experience, and deep compassion into one powerful leadership style.

From discovering track with the Illinois Flames, to triple jumping his way through college at St. Joseph’s, to finding his true calling in helping young women believe in themselves, Coach Tooks shares a journey filled with growth, humility, and purpose.

🔥 In this episode:

🏃‍♀️ How a 5th-grade “fun day” race changed everything

📸 Why a mass-comm major became a photographer AND a coach

🧠 The moment a college teammate humbled him into becoming a coach

💥 The honest story of a meet-day blow-up — and the powerful lesson it taught

🧒 Why understanding a kid’s life before practice changes everything

🏟️ Bloom Township’s new indoor facility and what it means for the future

🤝 The partnership between coaches, parents, and community that builds champions

💬 Favorite Quote from Coach Tooks:

“Each one teach one. If someone saw something in me before I saw it in myself, then I owe that to the next kid too.”

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 350 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 Twitch.tv, 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 Tuesdays through Sundays. 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! 🎧👍