University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

5/11/25

Jaclin Poole was hired as the head softball coach on June 15, 2020. Prior to the 2023-24 academic year, the addition of Senior Woman Administrator was added to her title.

Poole’s 2025 team was tabbed in the region rankings for two weeks. The squad posted 28 victories, including a sweep over No. 20 Flagler. The program had four all-conference performers. USCA concluded the season with three student-athletes virtually re-writing the school’s career record book (Payton Baker, Lakyn Phillips and Mallory Shaver). 

The 2024 season saw Poole’s team crush the school record for home runs with 51, marking the third consecutive season the program has shattered the record.

She coached six student-athletes that earned all-PBC recognition in Payton Baker, Jena Dewalt, Austyn Dixon, Skylar Morley, Phillips and Shaver. Poole’s team earned a region ranking throughout the season and knocked off then-No. 11 Wingate during the regular season. She guided the Pacers to a fifth-place finish in the PBC.  

In 2023, Poole’s team set the school record for home runs with 42. 

Emily Ayers and Lakyn Phillips garnered second-team all-conference honors while Shi Cain picked up PBC all-tournament team accolades after helping send the Pacers to the PBC Semifinals. During the PBC Tournament run, Cain recorded a pair of home runs and tallied two game-winning hits, including one against nationally-ranked No. 2 North Georgia.

During the regular season, Phillips recorded her second career no-hit bid. Poole’s guidance of Ayers helped solidify her as one of the most productive USC Aiken student-athletes in history. Ayers wrapped up her career in the top 10 in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, sacrifice flies, chances and putouts.

Additionally, both of Poole’s everyday pitchers entered the school record book after just two seasons. Both Phillips and Payton Baker stand in the top 10 for career strikeouts and saves. Phillips is also in the top 10 for shutouts and appearances. 

Poole guided the Pacers to a 29-22 mark during her second year. The team set the school record for steals in a game (11 at Erskine) and tied the school mark for most hits in a game (21 at Flagler and tied the school ledger for consecutive road wins (6). USC Aiken also established a school record for home runs in a season (41) while putting together the third-best batting average (.290) and third-most RBI (209) in the program's history. Poole's standout KB Moore tied the school mark for RBI in a game (7 at Georgia College) while Lakyn Phillips registered a no-hitter against Claflin. During the team's standout campaign, the Pacers took two-of-three from nationally-ranked North Georgia - one of which was a shutout by Phillips and the other ended in a dramatic walk-off home run from Moore. In all, four student-athletes picked up all-conference honors, tying for the most in program history. 

During her first year at the helm, Poole guided the Pacers to a sweep of Francis Marion and Lander, marking the first time since 2017 the squad had picked up two sweeps over league foes. She also coached all-conference performer Faith Cooke.

Poole, a native of Clover, S.C., comes to USC Aiken from Division II Lees-McRae, where she has served as the head coach since the fall of 2015. Prior to being named the head coach in Banner Elk, N.C., Poole was an assistant coach with the Bobcats.

In each season, LMC saw consistent improvement under Poole's direction. The win total increased every year during her tenure as did her team's on-base percentage. In a shortened 2020 campaign, Poole guided LMC to a pair of victories over No. 1 Young Harris.  

In 2019, the Bobcats picked up their first-ever NCAA Division II Tournament victory in sensational fashion when Kara Cunningham registered a walk-off inside the park homer for a 1-0 nine-inning win over Coker.

Under Poole's tutelage, Cunningham was named the 2019 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year while also picking up all-region and All-America accolades. Poole has coached six student-athletes that earned all-conference honors and five that were all-tournament team selections. 

A 2013 graduate of Coker College, Poole earned her degree in sports management and completed her Master of Science in college athletic administration in December 2020. On the diamond, she was a two-time Conference Carolinas all-tournament team selection. A four-year student-athlete, Poole was named to the Presidential Honor Roll, was an NFCA All-America Scholar and was tabbed Coker's "Freshman Athlete of the Year."


At USC Aiken 
Win #1 - March 25, 2021 vs. UNC Pembroke - 13-3
Win #25 - April 3, 2022 at Georgia College - 12-0 
Win #50 - March 31, 2023 at Lander - 7-6
Win #75 - March 21, 2024 at UNC Pembroke - 7-0

Career
Win #1 - January 31, 2016 at Anderson - 1-0*
Win #25 - April 28, 2017 vs. Mount Olive - 9-3*
Win #50 - March 17, 2019 vs. Southern Wesleyan - 14-5*
Win #75 - April 7, 2021 vs. Francis Marion - 7-5
Win #100 - April 13, 2022 vs. Claflin 1-0 (No-hitter)
Win #125 - April 15, 2023 vs. Flagler 5-2
Win #150 - Apr. 7, 2024 at Augusta 6-5

* At Lees-McRae
Year-By-Year Coaching Record

Overall Coaching Record
 

Year	Record	PBC
2021	6-14	6-12
2022	29-22	11-13
2023	20-33	10-17
2024	29-22	11-13
Totals	84-91	38-55