One of Carter Hawkins’ first tasks when he accepted the Chicago Cubs general manager job last November took only a few moments to complete.

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CARBONDALE, III. – Long-time Southern Illinois football assistant coach Pat Poore announced his retirement on Thursday, leaving as the winningest assistant coach in school history. In fact, with 87 career victories in 13 seasons, no head coach or assistant has been involved in more wins or playoff appearances (7) at SlU.

Poore served two coaching stints with the Salukis — first as the quarterbacks and special teams coach under Jerry Kill from 2001-07, and most recently as the tight ends and fullbacks coach under Nick Hill from 2017-21.

From 2001-07, Southern went from door mat to conference champions, starting out 1-10 in 2001 and finishing 12-2 in 2007. Along the way, the program went 55-32, won three-straight conference titles and made five-straight FCS Playoff appearances. Poore left after the 2007 season to accompany Kill to Northern Illinois.
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Poore returned in 2017 under Hill, who was the team’s starting quarterback during the 2006 and 2007 championship seasons. In the last six years, SIU has returned to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, winning postseason games in 2020 and 2021.
“Having worked with Pat for 10 years as both a player and a coach, he has helped shape who I am, and how I want to treat people,” Hill said. “Every day he came to work or practice with a true joy of coaching. He loves the game of football for the right reasons and was as loyal as can be. He only worked for two head coaches in his career. He always brought a smile to my face, and what a great way to be remembered.”

Poore coached in some of the biggest wins in school history, including both victories over Big Ten programs, beating Indiana in 2006 and Northwestern in 2022.

Poore will be recognized on-court during the first half of Friday night’s men’s basketball game versus Chicago State.