Bloomsburg Athletics

A 1979 graduate with a degree in education, Poff was a standout wrestler for the Huskies from 1974 to 1979.  He was a two-time NCAA qualifier and team captain for three years. Poff placed in both the PSAC and EWL on multiple occasions and helped the team to a 16-2-1 record in his final season.

As a critical piece of the Huskies' rise in the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), he helped the program earn its first PSAC title in 1979, in addition to top-three finishes in multiple years across both conferences.

After graduation in 1979, he accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of North Carolina. Poff helped guide the Tar Heels to a fifth place NCAA finish with five All Americans and CD Mock was crowned National Champion. In 1982 he returned to Bloomsburg University as an assistant coach and faculty member. While there, the Huskies had three consecutive top ten NCAA finishes and Ricky Bonomo won three National Championships. 

Poff was named the head wrestling coach at Lock Haven University in 1990. His tenure at LHU spanned twelve seasons. As head coach, Poff took the program to new heights. The winningest wrestling coach in school history, Poff's teams went 167-62-3 and amassed a winning percentage of .726. His 1996-97 team finished fifth at the NCAA Division I Championship - the highest finish in school history - led by five individual All American performances. His coaching yielded 80 National qualifiers, 14 All-Americans and Cary Kolat won two National Championships. Poff also coached 20 EWL Champions and 30 PSAC Champions. He was named PSAC Coach of the Year six times and on two occasions was EWL Coach of the Year. Poff has coached both male and female wrestlers that went on to represent and medal for United States at Olympic and World Championships. 

Poff is in his 30th year as Director of the TNT Wrestling Camp. He has been instrumental in developing wrestlers of all ages for the past 45 years. His camps have had tremendous positive impact on thousands of athletes and the sport of wrestling for decades. Possibly his strongest trait was his ability to build relationships with his wrestlers and students. He not only served as a coach and teacher, but more importantly as a mentor and role model.
Poff is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Lock Haven University Athletics Hall of Fame, Eastern Wrestling League Hall of Fame, Council Rock Athletics Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the Buck County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. 

Carl and his wife, Sharon, presently live in North Carolina and are the parents of three children, Casey, Corey and Tanner.