Congratulations, Shelly Poe, on Your Retirement After 44 Years of Excellence in College Sports Communications
Shelly Poe is retiring, and with her departure comes the end of a truly remarkable chapter in college athletics. For 44 years, Shelly has been a pillar of excellence, consistency, and quiet leadership in the world of college sports communications. Her name has become synonymous with integrity, grace under pressure, and the kind of behind-the-scenes brilliance that elevates not just a program, but an entire profession.
Across more than four decades, Shelly Poe built a legacy that few can match, serving some of the most iconic programs in the country, and earning the admiration and respect of coaches, athletes, media professionals, and peers alike. From her early days breaking barriers as a young woman in a field long dominated by men to her final years as a mentor and role model to countless up-and-coming professionals, Shelly’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary.
A proud West Virginia native, Shelly got her start in the industry with the West Virginia University sports information office. It didn’t take long for her talents to shine. Organized, articulate, thoughtful, and deeply knowledgeable, she approached every responsibility with a sense of purpose. She was not just covering sports—she was telling stories, preserving history, and providing student-athletes with the visibility and recognition they deserved.
Shelly later took her talents to other prominent programs, including Auburn and Ohio State, two college football powerhouses that entrusted her with their most important narratives. She handled each role with poise and skill, earning the trust of some of the most high-profile coaches and athletes in college sports. Her ability to manage media relations in high-pressure environments—whether it was a national championship run, a coaching change, or a controversy—was unmatched. She was the calm in the storm, the reliable voice on the other end of the phone, the person who always knew exactly what to say and how to say it.
Congratulations, Shelly Poe , on your retirement after 44 years of excellence in college sports communications. in their stories, their voices, and their futures. She worked tirelessly to ensure they received the credit and coverage they earned through their performances, and she made sure their character and academic accomplishments were celebrated as much as their statistics. In many ways, she was an extension of the teams she served—working late nights, showing up early, traveling through rain and snow, always with a notepad or recorder in hand and a heart full of commitment.
Shelly’s professionalism set the standard. She didn’t seek the spotlight, but it found her anyway because of the excellence with which she approached her craft. Whether she was preparing game notes, organizing interviews, coordinating media days, or simply offering a word of encouragement, Shelly brought humility and purpose to every task. She worked with legendary coaches and hall-of-fame athletes, but never lost sight of the broader mission: to serve the game, elevate the program, and do things the right way.
Her colleagues in the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) have long recognized her as a trailblazer. She was one of the first women to serve as a lead football sports information director in a major conference—an accomplishment that paved the way for countless others. She didn’t just hold the door open for the next generation; she stood there and welcomed them with open arms, mentoring young professionals with kindness, wisdom, and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in a demanding field.
In an age of rapid change and instant headlines, Shelly was a master of the long game. She built relationships, earned trust, and approached her work with a thoughtful, strategic mind. Her media guides were meticulously crafted, her interviews seamless, and her presence at practices and press conferences a comfort to coaches and players alike. She understood the nuances of media relations, but also the humanity behind the stories she told. To Shelly, this was never just a job—it was a calling.
And now, after 44 years of dedicated service, Shelly Poe is stepping away from the daily grind. Her retirement is richly deserved, but it leaves a void that will not be easy to fill. Her influence will linger in the halls of the athletic departments she served, in the stories she helped tell, and in the lives of those she mentored and inspired.
To call Shelly Poe a legend is no exaggeration. She is part of the fabric of college sports—a foundational figure whose fingerprints are all over some of the most memorable moments of the last half-century. But perhaps her greatest legacy is the grace and dignity with which she carried herself every day. In a field that can be intense and high-pressure, Shelly remained calm, kind, and deeply committed to doing things the right way.
Retirement will be a new chapter, but knowing Shelly, she’ll remain close to the game, to her friends and colleagues, and to the student-athletes she so dearly cares about. There’s no doubt she’ll continue to inspire, even from the sidelines.
So, Shelly, thank you. Thank you for your tireless service, for the way you made others feel valued, and for showing us all what excellence truly looks like. Your retirement is a celebration of everything you’ve achieved, and a reminder of how one person’s steady hand, big heart, and relentless work ethic can shape an entire profession.
Congratulations on your retirement, Shelly Poe. You’ve earned every bit of praise coming your way. Here’s to the legacy you leave behind—and the well-deserved rest ahead.-