Hokie ClubElevated to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2020-21 season, Poppie had served as an assistant on the Hokies' bench since 2016, helping Tech to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, training numerous players who have broken school records, earned All-Conference honors and gone on to the professional ranks.
He joined the Virginia Tech staff as assistant coach in July 2016 as Coach Brooks assembled his first staff in Blacksburg. A point guard in his playing days, he works primarily with the Hokies' backcourt and has played a role in developing some of the most dynamic talents in program history at the guard position.
Six of Poppie's pupils rank in the top 10 in school history in 3-point shooting, including; Aisha Sheppard (first), Vanessa Panousis (second) and Kendyl Brooks (fifth).
Sheppard was a First Team All-ACC selection in 2020 and 2021 following the footsteps of teammate Taylor Emery who earned the honor a year prior. In 2019, Emery became the first Virginia Tech player to earn First Team All-ACC accolades at the close of a stellar two-year career where she broke the single season school scoring record and finished with 1,313 points. She owns the two highest single-season scoring totals. Sheppard graduated in 2022 as the program's all-time leader in points and the ACC's all-time leader in 3-point field goals.
For each of the past two seasons, Poppie has served as the Defensive Coordinator, working with Coach Brooks to scheme the best defensive strategies for the squad to implement. In 2022, center Elizabeth Kitley earned ACC All-Defensive Team honors after finishing second in the conference in blocks. She was also named the ACC's Player of the Year.
Former Hokie guards that have found success in the professional ranks since graduating include; Sami Hill, Panousis, Emery and Taja Cole.
With Poppie on the bench, the Hokies have recorded six consecutive winning seasons, returned to the NCAA Tournament after a 15-year hiatus and set numerous records for ACC win totals, ranked wins and placed an athlete, Kitley on an AP All-American Team for the first time ever. Additionally, nine different athletes have earned All-ACC recognition.
Poppie came to Blacksburg after serving at Furman for three seasons, most recently in the role of associate head coach. During his time, he helped the Paladins to a pair of trips to the postseason. In 2016, the Paladins advanced to the semifinals of the SoCon tournament before falling to co-champion Mercer.
Prior to his stint at Furman, Poppie spent two seasons at USC Upstate.
Poppie began his career as an assistant coach at Limestone College where he served as recruiting coordinator. During his tenure, he recruited and signed three all-conference performers and helped the Saints to a 25-7 record, advancing to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2012.
A 2007 graduate of Limestone, Poppie was a two-time Carolinas-Virginia Athletic All-Conference player. He graduated as the school’s all-time leader in assists (602) and steals (168) and finished third on the scoring list (1,246). Poppie earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2017.
The Crescent City, Illinois native was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in the summer of 2019. He currently resides in Christiansburg, Virginia with his wife Regina and two sons Kai and Cayden.