The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

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! 🎧👍