Zinniger takes over as Warriors' head boys lacrosse coach

Mike Zinniger was Fallbrook High School’s junior varsity lacrosse coach from 2016 to 2018. This year he is the Warriors’ varsity head coach.

“So far I’m liking it,” Zinniger said. “It’s a little different than JV.”

Zinniger now has administrative activities as well as training players.

“It’s a lot different than JV,” he said. “It’s a little bit more challenging, but I like it so far.”

Brian Kimmell, who was the Warriors’ varsity coach, will be moving so Zinniger transitioned from the junior varsity level to the varsity level.

“They asked me to step up and give it a go,” he said.

Zinniger’s lacrosse playing career consists of two years on the Chico State club team. He was raised in Oceanside and graduated from El Camino High School in 1984.

“Never heard of lacrosse. I didn’t start playing until I was 22,” he said. “It was kind of slowly starting to come to the West Coast.”

While at El Camino High School he played baseball and football. The Wildcats’ football coach at the time was Herb Meyer, who coached at the school from 1976 to 2003 and previously coached at Oceanside High School from 1959 to 1975. “Herb Meyer was a big influence on me,” Zinniger said. “I take a lot of his philosophies.”

Football and lacrosse also have similar footwork, so playing for Meyer also aided Zinniger’s coaching skills in that aspect.

“I take a lot of the football drills,” Zinniger said.

Zinniger played football for Chico State for a year before switching to lacrosse.

Mike and Suzanne Zinniger have three children: Gabby graduated from Fallbrook High School in 2015, Zach is a 2017 Fallbrook High School graduate and Josh is currently a senior at the high school. Mike Zinniger began coaching lacrosse when his children began playing.

“I kind of started out at the youth level just volunteering,” he said.

Frank Rotunda oversaw the youth programs when Zinniger began coaching. Paul Morgan was Fallbrook’s varsity lacrosse coach when Zinniger began with the junior varsity.

“Those two sure taught me a lot,” Zinniger said. “They mentored me, and it was great to coach under them and learn.”

Ryan Farish and Drew Tippen are this year's junior varsity co-coaches. Tom Gillcrist is the boys varsity assistant coach as well as the girls junior varsity coach. Zinniger noted the advantage of having a full coaching staff.

“It gets more one-on-one with the kids,” he said.

Zinniger did not cut any of the 38 players who tried out for the varsity and junior varsity teams.

“It’s probably been the biggest turnout we've had in a few years,” Zinniger said.

The varsity consists of 20 players with the other 18 players comprising the Warriors’ junior varsity. In boys’ high school lacrosse, 12 players from each team are on the field at one time.

“We’ve got a pretty good group of seniors who have been playing since sixth grade,” Zinniger said.

When those players were in sixth grade, Zinniger was their coach.

The National Lacrosse League added expansion franchises in San Diego and Philadelphia for the 2019 season, bring the professional indoor lacrosse league to 11 teams. The San Diego Seals had their first home match at Pechanga Arena, originally the San Diego International Sports Arena, Jan. 12 and regular-season competition will continue through April.

“We’re getting a lot of new kids who have never played before,” Zinniger said. “It’s starting to take off and more kids are getting involved in it.”

The Warriors began their season March 5 with a 15-5 home victory against Mission Hills. A March 8 trip to El Camino produced an 11-5 Fallbrook win.

“It’s been a nice start,” Zinniger said.

The administrative activities include fundraising, and for Zinniger that has been a task but not an impairment.

“We’ve had a lot of great support from the parents and the community,” he said.