Williamsburg, KY – University of the Cumberlands Head Baseball Coach Jared Martin has announced the promotion of Willie Poe to a full-time Assistant Coach for the Patriots baseball program.

"I am excited about being able to retain Willie as our Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator for next year," said Martin. "He has earned this opportunity through his dedication, work ethic and the relationships he has built with players. He's a relentless competitor, and it pours down to the guys he coaches. His knowledge for the game, attention to detail and commitment to our program make him the perfect person to lead our pitching staff. I am excited for him to continue on the success he's already been able to build on the mound for us."

Poe enters his fourth season with the Patriots after spending the previous three years as a Graduate Assistant and Volunteer Coach before returning to Williamsburg following one season as the Pitching Coach at Reinhardt University. As the Patriots' Assistant Coach, he will serve as the team's Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator while continuing to play an integral role in the development of one of the NAIA's premier baseball programs.

During his first stint on the Cumberlands staff, Poe helped guide the Patriots to back-to-back NAIA World Series appearances in 2023 and 2024 and four Mid-South Conference championships. He has also helped develop two affiliated professional players during his time at Cumberlands while coaching six affiliated professional players and 13 additional professional players throughout his collegiate coaching career.

In 2022, Cumberlands finished 46-16 overall and 18-6 in Mid-South Conference play while winning its second consecutive MSC Tournament Championship to earn an automatic berth to the NAIA Opening Round. 

The Patriots followed that season with a historic 2023 campaign, finishing 49-9 while setting program records in home runs (142), RBIs (569), runs scored (616), walks (313), wins (49), strikeouts (549), and saves (17). The pitching staff posted a 3.64 ERA, 549 strikeouts, 17 saves, and held opponents to a .229 batting average. Cumberlands also produced three NAIA All-Americans, 13 All-MSC selections, Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year Caden Petrey, and Gold Glove winners Max Harper and Evan St. Claire.

In 2024, Poe helped lead the Patriots back to the NAIA World Series as the pitching staff established a new program record with 608 strikeouts.

"I am extremely honored and grateful for this opportunity at the University of the Cumberlands," said Poe. "Thank you to Coach Shelton and Coach Martin for believing in me. Thank you to Coach Kraftick and our outstanding administration at the University of the Cumberlands for all that they do to support us."

Prior to returning to Williamsburg, Poe spent the 2024-25 season as the Pitching Coach at Reinhardt University, where his staff posted a 3.52 team ERA. Before joining the Patriots in 2021, he served as the Pitching Coach at Oakland City University after coaching at Indian Hills Community College, one of the NJCAA's premier baseball programs, from 2019-20. Poe also began his collegiate coaching career at Iowa Wesleyan University.

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Poe played collegiately at Bellarmine University from 2014-19, helping the Knights capture the 2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship. During the summer of 2018, he competed for the Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Poe earned his bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and Sports Administration from Bellarmine in 2019 before completing his Master of Human Health and Performance from the University of the Cumberlands in 2023. Poe and his wife, Kaiti, reside in Williamsburg and are expecting their first child, Adeline.

"My wife and I feel at home here in Williamsburg and couldn't be more thankful to be a part of this great community. I am excited to get to work with our student-athletes and look forward to working alongside Coach Martin in this next chapter for UC baseball. Go Patriots!"

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