Who am I?

Paul Sargent, Founder & Owner

  • NCAA DIII Cross Country / Track & Field Coach for 22 years
  • IHSAA, NCAA and USATF Official
  • Board Member for IN-USATF
  • Former Chair for NCAA Track & Field Championships Committee

My History

As a former high school and collegiate athlete, I understand the importance of athletics and fitness.  Spending twenty-two years as a collegiate coach reinforced my belief of the value of athletics.  Athletes in my program continually heard the mantra of ‘teaching life lessons through the avenue of athletics.’  While not isolated, athletics is a powerful way to learn life skills in what should be a safe environment.  That passion for athletics and fitness continues into the business adventure of partnering with Gill Athletics to create Sargent Distribution.  As a coach, I also have a keen insight concerning the budget restraints that many programs face.  It is my goal to offer the best quality product at the best price, thus enhancing the student-athlete experience, the coaching role and the growth of your program.

What is Gill Athletics?

For more than 95 years, Gill Athletics has been the world's largest manufacturer of quality athletic equipment from major facility installations for track and field, football and soccer to personal performance products like our celebrated CarbonFX Vaulting Poles for athletes.

Over the past decade, Gill has experienced significant growth both through the expansion of our own diverse product lines, as well as the acquisition of highly respected companies such as Porter Athletic, a leader in basketball, volleyball and other indoor and outdoor equipment.

We go to painstaking lengths to build products to the most exacting standards, and that meet the precise specifications of the IAAF, NCAA and NFSHSA. In fact, Gill currently produces more IAAF certified products than anyone in the industry.

Part of what makes Gill the preferred choice of coaches, facility designers and athletes everywhere is innovation. Our patented technological advances set new industry standards for performance, safety and durability. Our athletic equipment is also value engineered - that is, we use production techniques and processes that achieve the highest quality product at the lowest possible price.

Continuing a Legacy

Sargent Distribution is a continuation of the legacy of L&J Distributors.  L&J was founded and managed by Larry and Joan Maddox.  Larry, a former NAIA and NCAA coach, has a rich history in Track & Field, not only in Indiana but on the National scene.  L&J served as a Track & Field distributor for 25+ years with integrity and great service.  Our goal is to continue this legacy.