Carl Poelker’s story is a Millikin story told over six decades. He arrived as a recruited athlete in 1962, earned letters in Football, Basketball, and Track & Field, and never really left — coaching, teaching, and shaping the Football program for decades. Mentored by Skip Mathieson, Carl joined the full-time staff in 1973, eventually becoming Head Football Coach in 1982, a position he held with an 88–39–1 record through 1995. He then brought the same standard to McKendree University, where he guided the Bearcats to 117 wins over 17 seasons. He concluded his 31-year head coaching career with 205 victories and a graduation rate that approached 100 percent, the statistic he cared about most. Carl is survived by his wife, Peggy; four children; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
