Originally from Ankeny, Iowa, Poppen came home to Drake University to play soccer after transferring from the University of Tulsa as a Junior in college.
In his final two seasons, Cole received two All-MVC Honorable mention awards, captained the Drake team, and led them in assists each year. He graduated in 2019 with an individualized major focused in coaching with a minor in rhetoric. He began his coaching career at Hastings College in an assistant role while completing his masters degree in education before joining Drake’s coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2024.
In his second year at Hastings, he took over as head coach where he spent the next 3 seasons leading the Broncos to a 34-16-8 overall record with 2 conference championships and 2 national tournament appearances.
