Nate Poole enters his third season on the Wingate Football coaching staff in 2020. Poole is responsible for the Bulldog wide receivers, along with duties as the program’s equipment manager. The Marshall University alumnus has 18 years of playing experience and 12 years of coaching experience. His NFL playing resume includes four years with the Arizona Cardinals and two years with the New Orleans Saints.
In 2019, Poole and the Bulldogs won a school-record 10 games. Wingate advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third consecutive season. Poole mentored All-SAC wide receivers Jalen Brooks and BJ Muckelvene during the 2019 campaign. Brooks caught 35 passes for 751 yards and six scores, while Muckelvene had 33 grabs for 581 yards and eight TDs.
Seven different Bulldogs caught a touchdown pass in 2018. Wide receiver JT Stokes led the Bulldogs with 39 receptions for 811 yards and nine touchdowns. Poole’s wide receivers helped quarterback Shaw Crocker top the SAC charts in points responsible for (174).
Prior to joining the WU family, Poole spent two years as the wide receivers coach and special teams’ coordinator for Myers Park High School and head coach Scott Chadwick. Poole has deep coaching roots in Union and Mecklenburg counties, as he has spent time as an assistant coach at Charlotte Latin, Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge and Providence Day.
At Marshall, Poole played in four bowl games and earned first team All-Mid-American Conference honors three times. He had 189 career receptions for 2556 yards and 32 touchdowns. During his six years in the NFL, Poole earned numerous team awards. He was a 15-time Special Teams Player of the Game with the Cardinals, also picking up an Offensive Player of the game plaudit. Poole was a two-time Special Teams Player of the Game with the Saints.
Poole has NFL coaching experience with the Buffalo Bills (wide receiver coach intern) and the NFL Europa Rhine Fire (offensive assistant/wide receiver coach/passing game coordinator). He served as the Brooklyn Bolts’ special teams’ coordinator/wide receiver coach/passing game coordinator. The Bolts played in the FXFL (experimental league). Poole and his wife Neville have three daughters: Nia Poole, Natalie Poole and Shaunita Lee.
