Foresthill has new face of varsity football

Mark Tumminelli is a self-described "journeyman" in the Northern California high school football world. He's made several stops at large and small schools and has coached freshman, JV and assisted with varsity teams throughout his 23-year run. When the 2020-21 football season begins, it will be Tumminelli's first as a varsity head coach as he takes over the Foresthill Wildfires program. Steve Collier, who coached Foresthill for the previous three years, decided at the end of the 2019 season he would step away from coaching for the time being. Foresthill made the easy transition to promote Tumminelli, Collier's defensive coordinator, to head coach. "Foresthill is such a great community," said Tumminelli, who lives in Auburn with his wife, Kelly. "They've just been outstanding with their support. The football program up there is a program that, with a little TLC in the next couple years, should be competitive." The Wildfires went 4-6 in 2019 and 5-5 in 2018 with roster sizes that reflect the school's enrollment of fewer than 200 students – an annual challenge for most public small schools. Foresthill last had a winning season in 2013, and the last playoff win came in 2012 after a Sacramento Metro League championship. But Tumminelli doesn't necessarily align success with tallies in the win column. "My definition of a successful season is one where everyone remains academically eligible, they remain safe and they develop memories that last a lifetime," he said. "When they get back here for their 30-year reunion and share stories from these times, then we as coaches have done our job." Tumminelli's staff features offensive coordinator Andy Siefker, wide receivers and defensive line coach Scott Barry, special teams coach Joe Aldrich and defensive coordinator Jeff Walters, who was brought on as Foresthill's new athletic director in July after a three-year stint at his alma mater, Del Oro. Tumminelli said the group has adapted well to an especially unique season, where no football will be played until at least December. "Obviously, you go into every season with a plan, and we've been able to modify the plan," Tumminelli said. "I have great coaches on the staff. I tell them that COVID-19 is a challenge to your coaching, and I think that my coaches right now have met and exceeded those challenges." Another challenge could present itself later, as Foresthill hits its peak snow season around January. Tumminelli said he and his staff will need to get creative in handling the early weeks of the 2020-21 season. "We do get snow, and that has been one of our discussion points," Tumminelli said. "I always like to plan four or five months ahead. What if we get snow and it's a game week? How do we remove snow from the field? We're developing a contingency plan and asking those particular questions." Born and raised in New York, Tumminelli graduated from Brockport College before becoming an Army officer via the ROTC program. He has also coached locally at Folsom, Oak Ridge, Cordova and Placer. Just the mention of Friday night football and the atmosphere it brings gets Tumminelli energized. "It's just the love of the game," he said. "I'm hoping for a season that my players end up enjoying and getting the most out of."