WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Mules' head golf coach Tim Poe teaches his golfers what he learned during his playing career at Central Missouri.

Poe earned All-MIAA honors twice during his collegiate career. He competed for the 1987 NCAA Div.-II Championships in Columbus, Ga., his senior year.

"That's our goal every year," Poe said. "My experiences helped me learn how to get to that level, and I think I can help them learn how to get there. I've taken teams to the national championships. It's rewarding to watch guys try to do what it takes to get there, and then watch them work hard to get back, once they've experienced it."

Poe's experience at the NCAA championships had a profound effect on his career.

"I remember the horrible weather, all the rain and fog," he said. "To say 'I'm playing in our biggest event' made it a great experience. That experience is what turned my golf game around and helped me become a lot better.

"To be able to play in a big championship - any championship, whether it be on the PGA, the Nike Tour or in the MIAA - you get so much mentally out of it," Poe said. "You come away feeling like you belong, and you gain confidence knowing you can play at that level. It makes other tournaments seem not as big as a championship event. It makes you not as nervous in small tournaments. This game relies so much on mental confidence and believing in yourself."

Junior Ty Needels said Poe develops the golfers mentally when they arrive after high school.

"The mental aspect is the biggest thing in golf," Needels said. "You have to think you're No. 1 when you go out there. You have to show that to the other team, and when you act that way, it sometimes gets to them. You can't show a soft side in golf."

Humble beginnings help produce success

Poe grew up playing golf in Keokuk, Iowa. His motivation to play came from watching his parents and grandparents.

"My motivation as a coach is to watch young kids play and improve," Poe said, "and to watch them achieve their goals and be the best player they can be."

Sophomore Justin Yoder, an All-Region selection as a freshman, said Poe tells his players to make sure they have fun.

"He tells us we're here to get an education and to play golf," Yoder said. "We don't think of it as a job. He makes sure we still have fun while doing it."

Poe turned professional after his collegiate career and was named assistant golf pro at Keth Memorial Golf Course. He became head golf professional and Central Missouri head coach during summer 1990.

Poe has coached eight Division II All-Americans and numerous All-MIAA selections. The Mules' won 109 consecutive conference matches, a streak ending earlier in the decade.

"I believe the success of our program comes from the support we get from [Athletic Director] Jerry Hughes," Poe said. "The belief he has in our program has been big. We have also gotten good players.

"You gotta recruit well," Poe said. "You can't make a player. I want players who have a successful resume and a solid swing, then I can refine them when they get here. And sometimes, you might get a borderline kid who blossoms from being a walk-on to becoming a better player."

"Player's coach" fills every role

Needels said Poe's on-course advice has helped him become a better golfer.

"He's always giving really in-depth advice," Needels said. "He knows everything there is to know about things like grasses and green undulation. He knows all the courses really well, which makes us better in tournaments."

Poe described himself as a laid back guy and old-school coach, trying to change with the times.

"I'm not high-strung like you see with some other coaches," Poe said. "I think my players can relate to me. They can come to me for anything. You hear the term "player's coach;" that's what I try to be. One of the unique things is I don't have an assistant coach. Usually the assistant coach tries to be the disciplinarian. I have to fit all the molds."

Poe's approach to practice has made Yoder a better golfer.

"He doesn't force us to practice on certain things each day," Yoder said. " He doesn't say 'You need to work on this today.' He will say 'You know what you need to work on' because he doesn't see our whole game, he only sees bits and pieces. He's someone we can go to with questions. He tells us to work on whatever we think we need to work on."

Needels' impression of Poe changed after meeting him.

"I saw his picture on the Internet, and I was kind of intimidated," Needels said. "He's so down-to-earth and a great guy. He's like a little teddy bear. I couldn't ask for a nicer guy to be my coach."

Knowing what is most important

Poe's golf achievements take a backseat to the degree he earned here in graphic arts technology/management. He said he preaches to his players they are here to receive an education.

The players are gone from school two to three days a week during the fall and spring seasons. They spend long hours on the bus studying.

"He tells us that academics come first," Needels said. "He tells us 'If you don't make good grades, then you aren't playing.' He wants our grades to be better than our golf score. He will bench you if your grades aren't very good."

Among Poe's favorite memories are his 1994 team that qualified for the national championships. The team had three players from Warrensburg and finished 10th..

"That got everything going for my career," Poe said. "That was a building block to the success we have now. That really got things going for recruiting. That put us on the map as a team that was going to be a powerhouse. Then, we won nine straight conference titles."

Poe said he expects his teams to win the MIAA and qualify for the NCAA Regional. He wants another trip to the national championships and a top-four team finish before he finishes coaching.

"As far as my career," Poe said. "I would want this program to continue to be one of the top powerhouses in the MIAA, and ranked as one of the top teams in the country. As long as we continue to play at a high level, we will continue to get good players."