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Poth Coach Joe McKinney takes the place of honor atop an awards stand created for him by Poth High School’s welding class April 4 after the District meet, after announcing his plans to retire from his career in education. He’s been Poth ISD for 26 of his 34-year teaching and coaching career. COURTESY/Keeley McKinney
Coach Joe McKinney is retiring from his role in the Poth Independent School District (ISD), and his teaching career.
He’s been a coach and teacher for 34 years — eight with the Industrial ISD, and the remaining 26 in Poth.
He announced his intention to retire before the April 4 District track meet, and students and community members devised several ways to honor him.
The Poth welding class created an awards stand with McKinney’s name on it and many current and former students walked a victory lap with him at the end of the meet. The beloved coach also was honored at the Area meet April 10; this included a speech by his daughter, Keeley, outlining his accomplishments through the years.
The Poth track and field and cross country programs have grown steadily under McKinney’s leadership, with many athletes making appearances at District, Area, and Regional meets, as well as State appearances. For the past two years, he’s taken the girls team to State, where they earned the bronze and silver medals. In May 2022, Poth’s Wyatt Hoover brought home the State title in the boys 3200-meter run, and broke the State record!
Poth athletes celebrate their win at the April 4 District track meet by dumping a cooler of ice water over track and field Coach Joe McKinney. Through his long career in Poth, he’s coached athletes from multiple generations in some families! COURTESY/Keeley McKinney
Coach McKinney will see out his last year in the Poth ISD by taking several athletes to the State track meet May 2-4 in Austin.
His accomplishments aren’t all on the track, however.
In 2019, McKinney donated one of his kidneys to Poth Junior High School Secretary Karen Moczygemba, whose own kidneys were failing, due to polycystic kidney disease; the Wilson County News shared their story in September 2019.
His career in Poth may be coming to an end, but Coach McKinney’s influence on the students and community will be felt for years to come.
