WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell announced Friday, Sept. 20, that longtime Mules Golf head coach
Tim Poe has signed a three-year contract extension.
"Coach Poe bleeds Cardinal & Black," Howdeshell said. "His 34 years of service to UCM Athletics demonstrates his dedication and passion, and Mules golf's 30 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances is a testament to his leadership. We could not be more excited to match our level of commitment to his!"
Poe's new contract is highly competitive in the MIAA and NCAA Division II and provides incentives for MIAA Championships, postseason appearances and achievements, coach of the year awards, and academic achievements.
"It has been an honor for me to be a part of the outstanding Central Missouri Athletics Staff as the Mules golf coach going on 35 years now," Poe said. "I appreciate [UCM President] Dr. Roger Best and [UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics] Dr. Matt Howdeshell for extending me this opportunity. In addition, thank you to all of the former and current Mules golfers, friends and supporters, along with the late Jerry Hughes, who have certainly helped make this possible."
In his now 34 years as the head coach for Mules golf, Poe has led Central Missouri to 15 MIAA Championships, including six straight from 1997-2002. The Mules have made 30 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.
Poe has been named MIAA Coach of the Year 15 times and is a 10-time recipient of the NCAA Division II Regional/District Coach of the Year Award. He was the Division II National Coach of the Year in 2010 and served as head coach of the United States Palmer Cup Team in 2011 when the USA defeated Europe.
Poe was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame in 2016, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 and received the Labron Harris Sr. Award presented by the PGA & GCAA in 2022.
He has produced 102 All-MIAA players, 37 PING All-Region selections, 26 PING All-Americans, eight MIAA Players of the Year, one All-Nicklaus Team Award winner (Justin Yoder, 2010), one Elite 90 Award winner (
Ian Barnes, 2021) and the 2015 NCAA Division II Individual National Champion/Arnold Palmer award recipient, Sam Migdal. Poe's teams have won eight NCAA Regional team titles and four NCAA Regional individual champions.
Under Poe, the Mules have qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships 14 times and have finished in the top 10 eight times with seven of those finishes being in the top-five.
A native of Keokuk, Iowa, Poe graduated from UCM in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in graphic arts technology/management with a minor in photography. As a member of the Mules golf team, he was a team captain his junior and senior years and a two-time All-MIAA and All-NCAA District 5 selection. As a senior, he qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships in Columbus, Ga.
Following his collegiate career, Poe turned professional and became the assistant golf pro at UCM's Keth Memorial Golf Course (now Mules National Golf Club), before being named to the position of head golf professional and men's head golf coach the summer of 1990.
In his professional career, Poe won three tournaments and qualified for a Ben Hogan tour event and two Nike tour events (both now known as the Korn Ferry Tour). He has been a member of the Professional Golfers' Association of America since 1990.
Tim and his wife, Rhonda, have two children and four grandchildren.
