CLARKSON
ATHLETIC HALL of FAME

KWASI POKU '68
Class of 2005 Inductee
The arrival of Kwasi Poku on the Clarkson College campus back in 1965 marked the beginning of a high-scoring era for the Golden Knights’ soccer program. A native of Kumasi, Ghana West Africa, the 5-9, 135-pound forward brought a much-needed scoring punch to the Clarkson offense and provided plenty of spectacular moments on the Snell Field pitch.
Started as a varsity program in 1953, the Golden Knights’ soccer team, under inaugural Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jack Hantz, began to emerge as one of New York State’s more successful small college teams in the mid-1960s with Poku leading the way. During the fall seasons from 1965 through 1968, Clarkson compiled a 24-19-2 overall record and scored an average of 3.31 goals per game as Poku headlined the offense.
He made an impact right away in his freshman year by scoring eight goals as the Knights set a new school mark for wins with seven against four losses. Poku was Clarkson’s top scorer in 1966 with seven goals and three assists as the Green and Gold posted a 6-4-1 mark.
As a junior he spearheaded the most potent scoring attack in Clarkson’s 15-year history with 14 goals and five assists. Poku opened the 1967 campaign with four goals in the Knights’ 9-3 romp over LeMoyne.
In 1968, serving as team captain, Poku led first-year head coach Paul Rose’s squad to a 7-4-1 record. He scored three goals in Clarkson’s first win of the year, a 7-1 rout of LeMoyne, and completed his senior season with 24 points, including a team-high nine goals.
Also a standout in the classroom, the chemical engineering major was named to the Dean’s List every semester and was tapped into Phalanx in his junior year. Poku graduated as the Knights’ all-time leading scorer and still ranks among the top five scorers at the University with 92 career points on 38 goals and 16 assists through 45 games.
Poku was named a first-team Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC) All-Star three times along with earning All-NYS honors once and became Clarkson’s first soccer All-America when he earned the prestigious honor in his senior campaign.

Kwasi Poku accepts his Athletic Hall of Fame plaque from Clarkson AD Sean T. Frazier