“Being my first year, we’re creating a system, and the ladies are learning a system, and we’re not just out there playing flag football, we actually have a system, we have an identity,” he said. “Everything that I learned from the NFL principle-wise, I’m bringing it to Alabama State, everything that I’ve learned, everywhere that I played, bits and pieces are here at Alabama State. There are a lot of things that I learned from Dom Capers that I’m doing here. I learned that everybody has to fit their gap. Everybody has a responsibility, and if you’re supposed to be on the inside, be on the inside and trust that your buddy is going to be on the outside.
“So that’s the same way I teach the ladies here, defensively, offensively, we have to be where we’re supposed to be, and if we’re not where we’re supposed to be, and if we’re in somebody else’s zone or a spot, then the defense breaks down. So I’ve learned so many things from different coaches that I played with that I utilize here.
“And the ladies have done a great job in grasping the concept of what I’m trying to do defensively and offensively, and we’re moving full steam ahead, and I believe the best is yet to come. They are very smart, very intelligent, kind of like those players in the NFL, the Pro Bowl, these ladies are very smart, very, very smart.”
Poole’s loving this job, but he also sees the growth of the sports, and can’t help but think about a future in which the NFL is sponsoring a league. And when that happens, he’s hoping his resume will get him a foot in the door.
“So hopefully one day when the NFL starts that professional league that they say they’re going to have, then hopefully I’ll be recommended as a head coach,” he said. “And who knows, there may be a professional team in Carolina, and I have an opportunity to come back and be a head coach in the city where it all started.”