WOODVILLE HOLDS MEET AND GREET FOR NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, JOEL POOLE
Story By Cinthia Rico
Last Thursday, Woodville High School held a meet and greet for the new head football coach, Joel Poole.
Woodville’s Principal Layton Holman shared his excitement and enthusiasm for Poole’s addition to the Panther family and what it means to their football program.
“We are definitely excited to have coach Poole with us,” he said. “We were looking for a coach that would bring stability to the program and a winning culture, and we feel like we found that in him.”
In front of a crowd of players, parents, and staff, coach Poole spoke about his vision for the Woodville football program, expectations, and hopes for the upcoming season.
“It’s great to be here,” he said. “I’ve been excited about this – I am looking forward to meeting all the kids. I am also looking forward to putting together as good a team as we can, and to do that, I am going to need all your help.”
Poole emphasizes the recruitment of players and the importance of parental involvement and motivation toward the athletes.
“I am big in the weight room,” he said. “We are going to make time for the weight room each day.”
Poole expressed his hopes to unite Woodville’s athletes.
“The weight room is not just for the football team. It’s for all athletes,” he said. “What we do on the field is football, but what we do there is going to help you in football, baseball, or whatever sports you’re in, and that’s the goal.”
Poole also expressed his thoughts on athletes participating in other sports.
“I want them to play every sport they can because they are only in high school once,” he said.
Another point in his speech centered around attendance.
“The number one thing I gotta stress to the people that are here is attendance,” said Poole. “I know we are a small community, but we need everyone pulling in the same direction.”
He also touched on fundraising, facility improvements, and enlisting the help of parents and the community to accomplish the job.
“These improvements will be beneficial to the kids – going to be safer for them, and we want everything to be top notch. Get things as nice as we can get them,” Poole said. “I’ve never been in a program where they didn’t have to fundraise.”
As a seasoned coach with numerous playoff appearances with various football programs, including those in North Jackson, Pleasant Valley, Albertville, and DAR, Poole said his first goal is to make it to the state playoffs.
“I’ve been a part of teams that have won 10-12 games, and I’ve been a part of teams that haven’t won very many,” he said. “The one thing the ones that won had in common is they played together as a unit with the whole team pulling together.”
Poole said he plans to do his best and put the best kids on the field for the upcoming season.
“I do not want to come in here and change the whole thing. However, I do want to put my spin on it,” he said. “The big thing I want to stress to you right now is numbers and recruitment.
As far as what we are doing offensively and defensively, I’ve gotta see some things and evaluate people.”
Poole shared with attendees his love for coaching, stating that it’s not all about winning, and a central focus in his program is to have responsible players.
“We are excited for our guys,” said Holman. “We are excited to build a program that everybody in the community can be proud of.”
Poole, originally from Lineville in Clay County, Alabama, currently resides in Guntersville.
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