The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bsubbs@tribunemedia.net

EDRICK Poitier, a former coach at the collegiate level, has been named as the new head coach of the Providence School out of Jacksonville, Florida.

Poitier, a FIVB Level II and IMPACT certified coach, will begin his tenure with the private Christian High School 3A for girls beginning in April.

“I want to try my hands at the high school level,” said Poitier, who was encouraged to take the new job by a few parents, whose children he coached at the club level last year, who wanted him to prepare them for college.

“The level of coaching don’t change. I have about four kids who are division prospects who I hope to develop them to get to division one at the University of Florida and other schools so I took the job. I had another college that was interested in me, but their season was shut down because of COVID-19 so I decided to take the high school job.” One of the advantages of the new job, according to Poitier, is that he doesn’t have to take the five-hour drive to attend a college game and getting home around 4am in the morning.

At high school where he will be coaching the indoor and beach volleyball, the ride is no more than an hour away, which suits his wife, Tiffany, much better getting home around 8-9 pm.

In the interim, Poitier was coaching the Powers Volleyball Club in Jacksonville for girls between the ages of 12-17. They are currently playing in the Sunshine Classic in Orlando, Florida, which serves as a qualifier for the Nationals.

When the tournament is completed today, Poitier said if they fail to qualify, his Powers team will still have the opportunity to qualify by participating in the AAU Tournament.

The tournament, which attracted teams from around the country, has been limited because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has also reduced the amount of fans in attendance.

Due to the restrictions improved because of COVID-19, Poitier said its been a new environment that they had to get adjusted to, but he’s making the most of it.

“We have to coach with masks on. We can’t take it off. We have to keep it on for the entire time,” Poitier said. “Once the players come off the phone, they have to put on their masks. They can only have it on when they are off the court. Some players play with it on, but it’s up to them.”

Prior to moving to the United States, Poitier coached the Bahamas national women’s team for nine years from 1992-99 and led the team to two gold medals and three silver medals at the Regional Caribbean Volleyball Championships and was the assistant coach from 1989-92.

Poitier also played on the Bahamas men’s national team as a setter for 13 years from 1979-92 and won the bronze medal at Commonwealth Volleyball Championship in London in 1981.

Poitier took a break in 2004 and left St Augustine to work in his homeland in the Bahamas as a police officer while coaching two club teams in five years before returning to coach college in 2010.

Poitier, a former member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, graduated from St Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice.

During his tenure there, he also coached at St Aug’s (now St Augustine’s University) women’s volleyball team where they won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.

He also coached at Savannah State University, Bluefield State College and Winston-Salem State University where combined, he earned three CICC Coach of the Year awards, four consecutive CIAA Championship and three NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional appearances.

Hopefully in his new role at Providence School, Poitier said he’s looking for the success to continue.