Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Football
Al Poree
- Title:
- Running Backs
Updated January 2026
Albert Poree, who spent the previous two years in the CFL, is in his first season as a member of Mason’s coaching staff. Poree has the title of running backs coach.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, running backs, 2026-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 30, 2026
At Edmonton Elks, running backs, 2024-25
• Team went 7-11 in 2024 as three back topped 500 rushing yards on the season
• Team finished 7-11 in 2025 as Justin Rankin rushed for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns
At Southeastern Louisiana, running backs, 2021-23
• Poree oversaw a running back group that was a key contributor to the Lions winning the 2022 Southland Conference championship. Poree’s crew was highlighted by Carlos Washington Jr., who rushed for 715 yards and 15 touchdowns – tied for the third-highest single-season total in program history and the most ever by a Lion running back – on the way to being named second team All-Southland Conference.
• In 2021, Poree’s group was led by Taron Jones. Jones earned a spot on both the All-Southland Conference and Southland All-Academic teams. Jones rushed for six touchdowns and was third on the team with 44 receptions.
• Poree helped the SLU ball carriers contribute to a Southeastern offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, total offense, third down conversion percentage, fourth down conversion percentage and red zone offense in the 2020 season that was played in the spring of 2021. His charges succeeded on and off the field, as Marcus Cooper was an All-Southland Conference choice and Taron Jones represented SLU on the Southland All-Academic team.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2013: Dartmouth (offensive quality control/assistant wide receivers)
• 2014: Mississippi State (defensive quality control coordinator)
• 2015: Mississippi State (special teams quality control coordinator)
• 2016: Tennessee Titans (intern)
• 2019: Houston Texans (minority internship participant)
• 2021-23: Southeastern Louisiana (running backs)
• 2024-25: Edmonton Elks Football Club (running backs)
• 2026-Present: Middle Tennessee (running backs)
Personal
• Birthdate: 1/13/1981
• Hometown: New Orleans, LA
• Wife: Myla
• Children: Reese, Nola and Bowen
Education
• High School: St. Augustine High School
• College: Georgia Tech, Bachelor of Science, 2003; Masters of Business Administration, 2008 (University of Phoenix)
Playing Experience (DB)
• Notre Dame (1999)
• Georgia Tech (2000-02)
Bowl Experience
• 2001: Seattle Bowl (player)
• 2002: Silicon Valley Bowl (player)
• 2014: Orange Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Belk Bowl (coach)
Albert Poree, who spent the previous two years in the CFL, is in his first season as a member of Mason’s coaching staff. Poree has the title of running backs coach.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, running backs, 2026-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 30, 2026
At Edmonton Elks, running backs, 2024-25
• Team went 7-11 in 2024 as three back topped 500 rushing yards on the season
• Team finished 7-11 in 2025 as Justin Rankin rushed for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns
At Southeastern Louisiana, running backs, 2021-23
• Poree oversaw a running back group that was a key contributor to the Lions winning the 2022 Southland Conference championship. Poree’s crew was highlighted by Carlos Washington Jr., who rushed for 715 yards and 15 touchdowns – tied for the third-highest single-season total in program history and the most ever by a Lion running back – on the way to being named second team All-Southland Conference.
• In 2021, Poree’s group was led by Taron Jones. Jones earned a spot on both the All-Southland Conference and Southland All-Academic teams. Jones rushed for six touchdowns and was third on the team with 44 receptions.
• Poree helped the SLU ball carriers contribute to a Southeastern offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, total offense, third down conversion percentage, fourth down conversion percentage and red zone offense in the 2020 season that was played in the spring of 2021. His charges succeeded on and off the field, as Marcus Cooper was an All-Southland Conference choice and Taron Jones represented SLU on the Southland All-Academic team.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2013: Dartmouth (offensive quality control/assistant wide receivers)
• 2014: Mississippi State (defensive quality control coordinator)
• 2015: Mississippi State (special teams quality control coordinator)
• 2016: Tennessee Titans (intern)
• 2019: Houston Texans (minority internship participant)
• 2021-23: Southeastern Louisiana (running backs)
• 2024-25: Edmonton Elks Football Club (running backs)
• 2026-Present: Middle Tennessee (running backs)
Personal
• Birthdate: 1/13/1981
• Hometown: New Orleans, LA
• Wife: Myla
• Children: Reese, Nola and Bowen
Education
• High School: St. Augustine High School
• College: Georgia Tech, Bachelor of Science, 2003; Masters of Business Administration, 2008 (University of Phoenix)
Playing Experience (DB)
• Notre Dame (1999)
• Georgia Tech (2000-02)
Bowl Experience
• 2001: Seattle Bowl (player)
• 2002: Silicon Valley Bowl (player)
• 2014: Orange Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Belk Bowl (coach)
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