Giving Back
Chris Cummings knows the importance of helping others reach their goals because he was once in their shoes.
Words by Terrell Manasco | Images by Ryan McGill
Catching up with Chris Cummings is a challenge, due to his hectic schedule. In addition to teaching history at Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Chris devotes a sizable chunk of his free time to refereeing and umpiring high school and college sports around the state. For a while, he also coached girls’ softball and basketball a few hours a week, but Covid brought those efforts to a halt.
On a blistering July afternoon, Chris hops out of his jet-black pickup truck. Dressed in a crisply ironed shirt and shorts, he offers his hand in greeting. His friendly, affable manner immediately puts one at ease and within minutes, the conversation resembles an informal chat between old friends.
The 1990 Walker High graduate has been involved in sports most of his life. In high school in the 1980s, Chris played point guard under former Viking basketball coach Phil Schumacher. He also ran track for coach Pat Morrison and played quarterback/wide receiver on the Viking football team for coach David Campbell.
In the early 1990s, when Chris was a student at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Florida, his mother, Eloise Cummings, began having health issues and he moved back home to be near her. He finished his second semester at Walker College, where he played basketball under coach Glen Clem. After finishing at Faulkner University in Montgomery, he took a break from college and went to work for the City of Jasper.
“I figured school wasn't for me,” Chris says. “A lot of my friends had houses and cars, and I felt like I was behind.”
Five years later, Chris returned to school, earning his Bachelor of Social Sciences degree at Athens State in 2002. He’d hoped to coach basketball but was hired by the Walker County school system to coach girls’ softball at Sumiton Middle School, and later Oakman High School. In 2007, Chris led Oakman to the AHSAA Girls Fast Pitch Softball Championship. The team ended the season with a 41-9 record.
Chris became involved in refereeing back in 1999 after being recruited by some friends. Since then, he has officiated high school ball throughout Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama, and enjoys it immensely. “I fell in love with sports (officiating),” he says. “I referee through a couple of associations throughout the state. I’ve had the opportunity to make it to the state as an umpire in volleyball and softball.”
In addition to coaching at Sipsey, Northridge, and Pinson Valley, Chris coached four years for a travel softball organization, which included teams from Walker, Winston, Jefferson, Shelby, and Marion counties.
From 2009-2011, Chris coached girls’ softball and girls’ basketball at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, and afterward added two more years at Pinson Valley.
Chris has been teaching at Wenonah High School since 2018. He says he enjoys working with kids and helping them develop academically, athletically, and socially. Occasionally, that may include employing a bit of tough love, with the emphasis on “love.” Based on the responses of former players and students, it seems to work well.
“I’ve had a lot of kids that came back and told me how much they enjoyed my class and on the ball fields,” Chris says. “Some bring their kids to me to turn around and help train them. Sometimes tough love helps out.”
While teaching and sports officiating occupy much of his time, Chris is never too busy to help someone else. In fact, it’s the reason why he is so busy.
“Some people say, ‘I don't need help,’” Chris says. “Everybody needs help. A lot of people who helped me were educators. What they taught me helped prepare me for later in life when I started coaching. I’m trying to give back some of what was given to me.” 78