Shawn Poppie, who recently completed his third year as an assistant coach at Furman, where he has played a significant role in the Paladins' success highlighted by two trips into post-season play, was promoted to associate head coach in early May.
Prior to joining the Furman staff, he served as an assistant coach for two years at nearby USC Upstate.
Prior to his stint at USC Upstate, Poppie served as an assistant coach at Limestone (S.C.) College for four seasons (2007-11), where he assumed the role of recruiting coordinator following his first year with the program. During his tenure at Limestone, he recruited and signed three all-conference performers who helped the Saints improve from a 10-win campaign the year before his arrival to 19 wins in 2011. The following year Limestone posted a 25-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
Poppie has extensive summer camp instruction experience, including work at Notre Dame, Duke, and Illinois, and as director of fundamental camp with USA Basketball in Beijing, China, in the summer of 2007.
A 2007 graduate of Limestone, from which he holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management, he twice earned Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference recognition as a player, graduating as the school’s all-time leader in assists (602) and steals (168). In addition he finished his career ranked third on the scoring chart (1,246 points).
A native of Crescent City, Ill., Poppie was a standout athlete at CPCI, where he was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state selection.
He resides in Greenville with his wife Regina and son, Kai, born Feb. 25, 2016.
