SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - After 22 years of coaching football, track and wrestling at various high schools throughout the region, Galt native and farmer Tim Cobleigh is embarking on his newest challenge as head football coach at Florin High School.

Cobleigh, who brings a wealth of experience from programs across the Central Valley, sees coaching as more than just X’s and O’s on a whiteboard.

“For me, the desire to coach is to help and encourage kids to strive to be their best, to challenge themselves to be better people of character, to learn how to overcome obstacles through competition,” Cobleigh said. “It’s something that has helped me in life, and I think it’s really important for students at every school that I’ve coached at to become better contributors to our society.”

The opportunity at Florin came about in an unexpected way. After two successful seasons improving the program at Franklin High in Stockton, Cobleigh was exploring other head coaching opportunities when Florin Athletic Director Scott Keplinger reached out.

“I had put some feelers out and interviewed at different places,” Cobleigh explained. “I was just getting ready to go into the off-season with Franklin when I got a phone call from Scott. He said he had heard some good things about me and was encouraged to give me a call.”

The meeting went better than expected.

“I went in for a meeting and before I left the school that day, I was the new head football coach,” Cobleigh said. “It was a really unique opportunity to go to a school that I did not anticipate would have all of the amazing things already in place to help create a winning program.”

Keplinger, in his second year as athletic director, was impressed with how Cobleigh’s vision aligned with his own goals for the program.

“Before I even let Tim talk, I shared with him my vision of what I’m trying to change here,” Keplinger said. “That was basically just changing the culture, making kids want to be here and play sports at Florin and not say, ‘Florin sucks; I’m going somewhere else.’”

“All I’ve seen so far from Tim is that we’re not too concerned about wins and losses right now,” Keplinger continued. “We are both on the same page that we just have to change the culture here. Once you change the culture, the wins can come later.”

This season marks a significant transition for Florin as they join the inaugural season of eight-man football in the San Joaquin Section. The format, which has been used in Southern California and other regions for smaller schools, allows programs struggling with numbers to continue to offer competitive football.

“The idea is to continue to get kids playing competitive contact football that are struggling with their numbers,” Cobleigh explained. “For some schools, the concept is to grow your program and possibly move back into 11-man football, but for others that are traditionally small programs, it can be a strong venue for kids to continue to compete.”

With 27 players on the roster, Florin will field one varsity team comprising all grade levels. The eight-man game is notably faster-paced than traditional 11-man football, requiring different strategies and conditioning.

Cobleigh has assembled a coaching staff that includes several familiar faces. Cesar Candido, who coached with him at Franklin and previously played for him at Galt, joins as an assistant. Two other former Galt players, Marcelo Lopez and David Candido, are also on staff, along with Jason Burgin, who previously served as JV head coach, Varsity head coach and wrestling assistant at Galt.

When he’s not on the football field or in the classroom, Cobleigh maintains the family farm that his father started 47 years ago, raising hogs and goats.

“Some people are still surprised that we still do it, sometimes myself,” he said with a laugh. “But I think raising livestock is just like coaching football and sports: You’re still striving for those champions, like we always like to say, hanging banners.”

Cobleigh also works as a behavior management technician at Estrellita High School, helping students who need extra classroom support. After retiring from coaching wrestling at the end of 2024, he’s found that football and his other commitments keep him plenty busy.

“I miss it, but I always seem to find time to fill in the blanks and make myself even busier,” Cobleigh said.

As Florin High School, with its 1,700 students and renowned culinary program, prepares for this new chapter in its football history, both Cobleigh and Keplinger are focused on building something sustainable.

“We feel like we have a long-term opportunity at Florin High School,” Cobleigh said. “It’s about making kids want to be here and creating a culture where they can grow both as players and as people.”

The Falcons begin their first season of eight-man football this fall, with hopes that Cobleigh’s experience and vision will set a foundation for years to come.