Sam Poole enters his second year at the helm of the Titan women’s tennis program after setting the bar pretty high in his first season. He was presented a challenge in taking over a team that just set its single season win total with 15 and advanced to its first Horizon League Championship match in school history. Four seniors and three starters also departed after the year leaving Detroit in a rebuilding mode to start the 2009-10 season and a seven match losing streak would open the campaign.
Detroit rebounded to win nine of their next 12, advancing to their second straight HL title match. Detroit was 6-2 in the conference and had three victories by way of a 7-0 sweep en route to a 10-win season. Freshman Carolina Salas Espinosa was named the HL’s Newcomer of the Year as well to the first team All-League, while sophomore Amanda Cornwell garnered second team accolades.
Poole joined the Titan Athletic Department as assistant women’s tennis coach during the 2007-08 season, and was elevated to head coach on May 4, 2009.
A product of Cass Tech High School in Detroit, Poole played collegiately at Eastern Michigan University until the men’s tennis program at EMU was discontinued. He then transferred to Chicago State, where he competed for just one season prior to returning to Detroit. Poole ultimately finished his bachelor’s degree in education at Wayne State in 2007.
The 31-year old Detroit native is addicted to the sport he knows and loves, and he traveled all over the country with dozens of junior players prior to settling back down in southeast Michigan. He has worked with a myriad of players at all levels during the past 10 years, with experience at Grosse Pointe’s Hunt Club, Wimbledon Racquet Club and Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield.
“Sam has a unique coaching style, and he pushes our student-athletes from start to finish in every practice,” former UDM head coach Daron Montgomery noted. “He brings energy, enthusiasm and passion to the program. I think he has a lot to offer to the sport of college tennis. His local roots make him a perfect fit for Titan tennis.”
Poole, who teaches full-time at Detroit’s Midtown Academy, is one of three children. He has a brother (Kristopher) and a sister (Samantha).
