Denver Broncos high school football coach of the week: Poudre’s Eric Tonkin

There’s always something special about a coach coming back and coaching their alma mater.

For 5A Poudre football head coach Eric Tonkin, a former Impala, he is not only coaching where he used to play, but he is guiding the team back to the top.

Tonkin’s squad is 7-2 heading into the final week of the regular season. It is the first time the program has reached the seven win mark since 2008. The Impala’s are now seeking their first playoff appearance since 2017.

They also picked up their first win over rival Fort Collins for the first time since 2017 this past weekend, rolling to a 41-15 victory. For leading his alma mater back to prominence, Tonkin is this week’s Denver Broncos high school football coach of the week.
 

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Eric Tonkin bio

Overall record at Poudre: 10-9
Overall record as head coach: 10-9
Previous coaching positions: Offensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator Mayville State University. Defensive Line Chadron State College. Defensive Line Robert Morris University/Roosevelt University

Question: Why do you coach? 
Tonkin: An opportunity to influence and have an impact on young student athletes and continue to be a part of the awesome game of football.

Q: Why do you coach the way that you coach? 
Tonkin: My coaching style is a reflection of who I am, I try to be consistent in what I do. Things I coach are a reflection of the coaches that I have had the opportunity to be around and learn from.

Q: What do you think it’s like to be coached by you? 
Tonkin: I have expectations for my players in the classroom and on the football field and I also try and give them every opportunity to be successful. I think that players would say I am demanding but fair and really want to see the TEAM be as successful as possible, and within the TEAM each person given an opportunity to excel.

Q: What has been your favorite memory from being the HC at Poudre? 
Tonkin: The opportunity to play at CSU home stadium, and play a cross-town rival in that game.

Q: What does the sport of football and this team mean to the Poudre community? 
Tonkin: Poudre has a very rich history and tradition, and there is a lot of pride in the community for that history. For the community having a team that is going to play with great effort and play physical really represents who the Poudre community is. We are working hard to make it a program that the community can be proud of.

Q: What has it taken to get your program to where it is today from when you first took over, now seeing some success on the field that hasn’t been seen at Poudre in a little bit of time. 
Tonkin: The big things we talk about are discipline and commitment. I have been fortunate to have a great group of players and coaches that have bought in to how I want to do things, and are now taking advantage of the opportunities that disciple and commitment create.

Q: How much extra special does it make it that you are doing this at your alma mater? 
Tonkin: It has been a great opportunity to come back to a place where I have great memories, and be a part of the rich history that is Poudre football. As I said before there is great pride in this program and I am excited to be a part of that tradition and hopefully continue to make it something special.