#363: TJ Lawson-IMG Academy | Building Culture, Multis, and a National Meet

This week on The Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham is joined by TJ Lawson, Assistant Director of Track & Field at IMG Academy.TJ shares his journey from growing up around Hayward Field, competing as a near–8,000 point decathlete, and ultimately finding his calling in coaching and program leadership after injuries reshaped his athletic path.The episode pulls back the curtain on IMG Academy—what it is, what it isn’t, and how culture, academics, and athlete-first thinking drive everything they do.⚙️ Episode highlights:🌲 TrackTown USA roots and barefoot all-comers meets🏀 Why basketball came first—and why track recruiting changed everything🧠 Coaching fundamentals from middle schoolers to national-level athletes🧪 Creating pressure and buy-in before championship season🎓 Why IMG is not a diploma mill (and sends athletes to the Ivy League)🎯 Smart recruiting and scholarship strategy🏟️ Building the Under Armour National High School Championships from the ground up⭐ If you enjoy the episode, leave a review—it helps amplify coaches’ stories.👉Dive into nearly 400 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! 🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airsTuesdays 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 [email protected],or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍