Tom Sumpter is the new cross country coach at Live Oak High School.
With 10 upperclassmen returning to his boy's squad and six returning to his girl's team that won a division title in 2007, Tom Sumpter could easily have picked a worse place to start his prep cross country coaching career than Live Oak.
Sumpter, 51, a running enthusiast who teaches math and coached junior varsity soccer in past years at Live Oak, will skipper the Acorns' cross country teams this fall, as announced recently by athletic director Mark Cummins. Sumpter takes over for longtime coach Dean Raymond, who left the position in June for personal reasons.
"Tom will do a great job with our runners," Cummins said in a statement. "He is a tremendous teacher who will get the most out of our student athletes."
Sumpter's enthusiasm is nothing short of genuine. The former cross country coach at Britton Middle School has never held this position at the prep level but has always been open to it. When approached about the job in early July, he "couldn't refuse."
"It's something I've always wanted to do," added Sumpter, who grew up in Santa Clara. "I saw this as a great opportunity for me. I'm very excited.
"Soccer's always been my main thing as a coach, but I'm just as passionate about running."
Sumpter's playing career ran a similar course. He was a soccer player first until after college, when his interest for distance running took off.
"I was a soccer player who should have been running cross country," he joked. "I've always loved running."
Sumpter is taking over a girl's program that loves winning, especially as of late.
The Lady Acorns are defending a league title for the first time in a decade and feature a team that was blessed with young talent in 2007. The reigning Santa Teresa Division champions, who return four seniors, three juniors and a sophomore, placed 12th in the CIF-Central Coast Section Division III.
"We have high expectations for them - I just hope I don't goof them up," Sumpter joked.
"I just want them to get their miles in, keep their speed up and stay injury free."
The Live Oak boy's team endured a challenging slate in 2007 but will have experience on its side in fall, Sumpter said.
"We have a lot of senior coming back," he said. "The goal for them is to get better and PR."
Sumpter's goal for himself, meanwhile, is to schedule his teams for an invite at either Toro Park or Crystal Springs - the potential sites for this year's CIF-CCS championships.
"It'd be a fun test for us and a chance to get used to the course," Sumpter said. "Anything to make us better."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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