Callie Poole started out as a soccer player. The Norfolk Academy Student had no plans of attending a field hockey tryout.
Callie's Dad wanted her to pick up a second sport and Norfolk Academy head field hockey coach Mary Werkheiser (also Callie's PE teacher at NA) likely recognized a potential future field hockey star. According to Callie, the two hatched a plan.
With no warning, Callie's Dad drove her to a field hockey tryout for Coach Werkheiser. Poole, a self described tough nut to crack, protested the new venture.
"He gave me twenty bucks, and I changed my mind," says Poole.
After a little bribery, Callie joined the tryout, and the rest is history.
That history spanned a championship winning career at Norfolk Academy, playing at Mary Washington, and eventually becoming a coach. That history gained a new chapter this summer, when Callie agreed to take the head coaching job at Hampton Roads Academy. Callie says the school is putting a focus on making field hockey one of their top sports.
The school also plays in the TCIS. The same league as Poole's alma mater, where the coach who hatched that original plan with her Dad still leads the Bulldogs, as one of the most successful coaches of any sport in Hampton Roads.
The two will face off on October 8th of this year. In the meantime Poole will begin building her own program at HRA.
The school says Poole's duties will include:
Advancement Associate: Callie will be instrumental in driving HRA’s development initiatives, fostering relationships with alumni, parents, and the broader community, and supporting our mission to provide an exceptional educational experience.
Head Varsity Field Hockey Coach: With her extensive background in coaching and her proven track record, Callie is poised to elevate our field hockey program to new heights, inspiring our student-athletes to excel both on and off the field.
Field Hockey Program Coordinator: Callie will oversee the development and implementation of the entire field hockey program, ensuring that it aligns with HRA’s values of excellence, teamwork, and integrity.