#358: Mason Rebarchek-Winona State | From “Run Faster Than You Can” to Leading a Program

Some coaching journeys start with a plan.Mason Rebarchek’s started with a middle school PE teacher… and a simple instruction:“Run faster than you can.”From that moment, a hurdler—and eventually a coach—was formed.In this episode, Mason shares how early influences, unexpected decisions (including nearly joining the military), and a deep love for training shaped his path to becoming the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Winona State.What stands out most?He wasn’t a “student of the sport” early on.He just showed up, trusted his coaches, and fell in love with the process.That foundation still drives how he leads today.🧠 How a single middle school coach can change the trajectory of a life🏃 Why hurdling became his identity (and why technique mattered so much)🎯 The mindset shift that changed everything: “It’s a beautiful day for football”The real moment he chose track over the military path🔁 Why he wasn’t a “track nerd”… but still became a great coach👥 Lessons on attitude, buy-in, and controlling your mindset as an athlete💬 Quote from Mason: “I wasn’t asking questions. I wasn’t studying the sport. I just did what I was told… and fell in love with it.”This is a powerful reminder for every coach:You don’t always know which moments matter most.But your impact? It sticks.🌟Explore Our Library: Dive into over 350 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such asBoo 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!🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode: Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very ownGill1918 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 onTwitter (@MikeCunningham), email at [email protected], or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍