Haverford (D3) head coach Kate Poppe stopped by to visit with our crew in Oklahoma City. Poppe won tickets to the Women’s College World Series through a contest put on by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and got to experience the WCWS for the first time. A former standout pitcher at Villanova, she spent some time chatting about her experience at the WCWS and coaching in close proximity to her alma mater.
On finding out that she had won tickets to the WCWS… “There was a list of options [for prizes], and I knew right away that I was going to come here to the World Series, because I’ve never been and it’s just too cool and a bucket list item that I’ve been meaning to do. I almost expected my name to be called, because I guess I’m just conceited in the raffle world, I guess?! Then it was and I was like ‘oh my gosh, wow!’ It was pretty cool to be picked for it and to have this as our future plan… I knew immediately that I should bring my mom because she watches every softball game that’s on TV, knows everything about it. I’m not upset about my decision to come here.”
On her initial thoughts upon entering Hall of Fame Stadium… “It’s definitely cool. I actually went to the men’s basketball championship game in 2016 for Villanova, in Houston when we were in it. It’s definitely cool that you have all the team banners up and the logo for the NCAA on everything, so it actually does feel like you’re here for the biggest moment in college sports for these girls. I wish I could have been here for myself one day, but it’s so cool to be experiencing it as both a fan and as a coach.”
On the WCWS experience… “So many good games, which is to be expected… the one day of elimination where there were multiple games that went into extra innings and 0-0 games all the way into the ninth inning, so many great games. That was so cool. And then you have surprise games that are 16-3, the blowouts that you never thought would happen and I think that’s the best part, you get to see the best softball there is and never know what’s going to happen. It’s always a surprise, so it’s cool.”
On her team’s outlook going into 2020… “My team next year at Haverford is going to be great. My first recruiting class as the coach is coming in, so I’m super excited about that. We have six girls coming in and we have a great core coming back. Our ace pitcher is coming back, the conference Player of the Year is coming back, so really excited about that. We should go take the conference championship this year. We’ve been in the championship the last two years, so it’s our time, our turn to go win it.”
On the quick trajectory of her coaching career… “Two years [into coaching], being twenty-three years old when I got the job, it was insane. Honestly, it was totally shocking that I got the head coaching job at that age, but I’m just so glad that the chips fell as they did. To have the opportunity to do this at Haverford has been so awesome. Playing at the D1 level and coaching for a bit at the D1 level, I loved it and would love to do it again some time, but being able to coach at the D3 level and see these girls that just love this sport, they’re awesome and they’ve been awesome from day one. Can’t take too much credit there! They’re awesome, the schedule is awesome, and I’m so grateful to be where I am. Things have worked out exactly how they’re supposed to be and how God planned it, so it’s great.”
On having her dad as an assistant coach… “Oh my gosh, it’s been awesome. He is not afraid to keep me in check and challenge me on decisions and make sure I’m learning the game and staying humble. And then being able to say ‘okay dad, this is how it is, this is what the girls think.” We have a great relationship to be able to be super open and are always learning the game from each other. This was our dream since I was young and playing, to get to coach together… it’s been all a dream come true. It’s been really cool.”
