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.

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📲Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow onTwitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍