Young coaching prodigy: Eddie Poole Jr.

GREENACRES – About six months after his first year as a head coach concluded with West Palm Beach Christian Academy, Eddie Poole Jr. is thankful to be in the position he is in now.

Thanks to West Palm Beach Christian Academy founder/athletic director and former Glades Central head coach Willie Snead III, Poole earned an opportunity to lead the Saints in a new direction. He is the second head coach for the Saints after John King (2021 and 2022 seasons), who is now the head coach at American Heritage School (Delray Beach).

The Glades Central (high school) and Bethune-Cookman (college) alum led West Palm Beach Christian Academy to a 3-5 overall record in 2023, which included a regular-season ending three-game winning streak after starting at 0-4.

The Saints season ultimately ended in the first round of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) 4A playoffs, a very close 14-12 loss to the St. Edward’s (Vero Beach) Pirates.

Poole Jr. reflected on his first season as the Saints head coach.

“It was a season of ups and downs,” Poole Jr. said. “We were a young team. 80 percent of our team were ninth graders. We were learning the game as we played. So it was like baptism by fire.”

Poole Jr. did not stop there.

“We were learning the game, but these guys have things you can’t see like work ethic,” Poole Jr. said. “Their football character is high. They want to win. So with that, we’re excited about what’s to come because all these guys are growing. They have experience playing varsity as ninth graders. We’re ready to win. We’re pushing them to be great. There’s no question about it.”

West Palm Beach Christian Academy ‘25 athlete Jeremiah Parks offered his take on Poole Jr. and his overall impact on the program.

“Coach Poole, I honestly don’t know where to start,” Parks said. “He is the one who brought the light to my eyes with football. He keeps me motivated and has always been there for me when I needed him, on and off the field. He mentors me and tells me right from wrong. He teaches me how to lead and also keeps me focused. It’s nice having a coach like him because he has played at the next level and knows what it takes to get there.”

Parks did not stop there.

“I look up to him and he is like another father to me,” Parks said of Poole Jr. “I love that guy.”

Fellow ‘25 athlete Michael Liriano, who played for Poole Jr. last season as a junior at West Palm Beach Christian Academy, shared the same sentiment as Parks.

“He’s a great coach and a great teacher,” Liriano said. “Him being from the Muck didn’t make me feel like a stranger on the team. He would always emphasis hard work and grit in every practice and rep we took that translated to the game. He also was a former Bethune Cookman receiver, which helped out in coaching our young group on offense and sharing tips and breaking down film to fit their playing style.”

Poole Jr. played at wide receiver for Snead III – his high school head coach – with Glades Central on the 2006 state championship team as a junior, the last time this storied Raiders program has reached the summit. He finished his time there in 2007 and graduated from Glades Central High School in 2008.

With that said, Poole Jr. endeavors to build and to eventually maintain a true championship environment at West Palm Beach Christian Academy – something he knows a thing or two about in his own right.

“I’m pushing all these guys to reach their potential,” Poole Jr. said. “We’re really pushing for this state championship this year. It’s gonna be a magical year upcoming.”

At this time, Poole Jr. and the Saints have just completed an 8-on-8 15U league offseason. They advanced up to the second round of the Elite Spring Youth Football League playoffs, which occurred on Saturday, April 13.

“It’s in full pads,” Poole Jr. said. “It was my first season, so it’s different than 11-man. The field is condensed, both length and width. We had some guys playing out of position, but we just competed. We lost in the game before the championship, but it was really about the growth. Those guys take whatever we throw at them and they just go full speed.”

As for the upcoming spring football circuit, Poole Jr. is looking for any opponent to play West Palm Beach Christian Academy in a spring game.

“Take that as an invite,” Poole Jr. said to teams that do not have a spring game opponent at this time. “You can look forward to a fast team that flies around and throws the ball all over that gridiron.”

For more on Poole Jr., you can watch the full interview clip, as well as Willie Snead IV’s amazing commentary on Poole Jr. right below.

We are looking forward to a great spring circuit, summer offseason, and fall football season from Poole Jr. and the Saints. The best is yet to come for the West Palm Beach Christian Academy football program and beyond.

PHOTO CREDITS: Fritz Narcisse (Popi1k: Instagram/X) and Stephanie Chamu (chamu.memorablephoto: Instagram)