It’s been almost 20 years, but Auburn Mountainview boys basketball coach Jon Price still smiles when he thinks about his senior year at Auburn High School in 1992.
That year the Trojans, coached by Tim Cummings – now the Auburn School District assistant superintendent and a 2012 Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee – took home fifth place at the state tournament.
“Nothing makes me smile more than thinking that my senior season, Coach Cummings’ last season, we finished by winning three straight at state to send (him) out with a victory and fifth-place hardware from the state tournament,” Price said in a letter nominating Cummings for the WIBCA Hall of Fame.
This July, Cummings will be honored at the WIBCA luncheon in acknowledgement of his 18 winning seasons at Auburn High.
“I was extremely humbled (when I found out),” Cummings said. “I have immense respect for the other people in the hall of fame. I never felt like I was at the same level as the other coaches. I’m very happy that it happened, but I guess I’m humbly grateful.”
Cummings played high school at Renton where he won two state titles as a guard under coach Irv Leifer in 1966 and 1967. He attended and played ball at Green River Community College where he helped the Gators win the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College championship in 1969. Cummings transferred to the University of Idaho where he played basketball for the Vandals and obtained a master’s degree in physical education.
Cummings began his coaching career at Moscow High School in Idaho, before taking over the Auburn boys program in 1972, where he strung together a 332-132 record during 18 winning seasons with the Trojans.
Under Cummings’ guidance, Auburn won three North Puget Sound League championships and West Central District championships. He also led the team to four state appearances where the Trojans finished sixth in 1975, fourth in 1980, third in 1988 and fifth in 1992.
During his tenure at Auburn High, Cummings also coached the track and field team and was vice principal.
He created a life course for students that is still used in the district today.
In 1990, he become the district athletic director. For the past nine years, he has been the district assistant superintendent.
“It was a honor to play a small, tiny part in getting a true legend recognized as the hall of fame coach those who played for him knew he was,” Price said. “Kids growing up in Auburn in the ’70s and ’80s all knew Coach Cummings and wanted to play for him, and he gave us so much. It is an honor for me to able to represent all those kids, and give coach something back. Teachers and coaches give so much to students and players. For once, I feel like I gave something back to someone who meant a lot to me and many people in Auburn. Coach is a true legend in the ranks of coaches at Auburn High and this solidifies his place as a legend.”
Cummings credited the players, both at Moscow and Auburn, for his success as a coach.
“It’s really because of all the players who played for me. You don’t get anything like this if you don’t have good talent and tough kids,” he added. “It’s never big games won or records, it’s the kids I remember. I think any coach who had the same kids I did could have done as good as I did.”
