🎙️ Iowa Western’s Marc Bierbaum from Hurdler to Marathoner & Why JUCO is the Ultimate Cheat Code

This week on the Gill Connections Podcast, we sit down with one of the most insightful voices in track & field — Marc Bierbaum, Head Coach at Iowa Western Community College. With over two decades of experience navigating the ever-changing world of college athletics, Marc brings the 🔥 on everything from NIL madness to international recruiting to why JUCO might just be the smartest path for today’s athletes.

In this episode:

💰 The wild world of NIL — blessings or chaos?

🌍 Why international athletes thrive (and what we can learn from them)

🔁 Transfer Portal overload — how it’s reshaping recruiting

🏫 Junior College as the ultimate cheat code to success

👴 Age debates in track & field — why host Mike Cunningham says rules are rules

🧠 The real lessons he’s learned coaching athletes from every walk of life

❤️ A powerful reminder that coaching is leadership — and JUCO coaches might have the hardest (and most important) job of all

"I don’t care if it’s NIL, Transfer Portal, international kids, 27-year-olds — as long as it’s within the rules, figure it out. That’s what coaches do." — Mike Cunningham

🌟 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.

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode: Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs every Tuesday through Sunday. 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! 🎧👍