Cummings steps down as Flathead football coach

Flathead High School activities director Bryce Wilson is on the hunt for another head football coach after he announced Thursday that Alex Cummings has resigned to take an assistant principal position at Kalispell Middle School.

Cummings has been with the program for seven seasons, and succeeded Matt Upham as head coach just last season, guiding the Braves to an 0-9 mark.

He’ll be the activities director at KMS along with his assistant principal duties. The Kalispell Public Schools board will vote on the hiring recommendation at its March 8 meeting.

“It is an incredible opportunity for him to work in our school system as an administrator,” Wilson said in a release. “Although the timing is tough, he has placed the Brave Program in a solid place.”

Cummings came to Flathead to be part of Kyle Samson’s staff; in four seasons from 2015-18, Samson was able to build up the program to where it made the 2018 State AA championship, which it narrowly lost to Billings West.

Samson left for Montana Tech after that season, and Upham guided the Braves for the next two before stepping down with a 2-15 record. He now coaches and teaches at Glacier High.

“Alex is looking forward to the challenge of being an administrator in our district, but is deeply saddened to not be our head coach for next year,” Wilson said. “As the Flathead program moves forward, we will continue to strive on building a quality football program.”

“It’s been a kind of crazy last couple of days,” Cummings said by phone on Thursday. “When I got into teaching, I said I had two career goals: I would like to be a head coach and have the opportunity to move into administration. It just so happens that both those opportunities have been presented to me in a year.”

Nonetheless, Cummings called the decision, “Probably the most difficult decision to make in my life.

“This program is kind of my baby. This last year I spent a lot of time and energy trying to put this thing on the right track.”

Cummings is encouraged by the staff he assembled; the assistants will stay in place as Flathead rolls into its offseason programs, and Cummings is eager to help with the transition to a new HC. He was also encouraged by the positive response of the players

Meanwhile his wife Kirstyn — who coaches the Glacier girls basketball junior varsity — teaches sixth grade at KMS.

“When you look at these types of things, it’s an incredible opportunity for me and my wife,” Cummings said. “Probably the only administration I’d step down for.”

Cummings was Flathead’s third head coach in four seasons. Wilson said the process of finding the fourth head coach in five seasons “will start immediately.”

The new coach inherits a team that saw a lot of youngsters see action in 2021.

“You look at it from the outside, it’s tough,” Cummings said. “A couple bad seasons in a row.

“There’s a full coaching staff. Great group of kids that have been working and have bought in. The summer schedule is set. I feel like the program is in a better spot than a year ago.”