Mike Dimino tried the father-son coaching thing before. Didn't work out so well.

Twelve years ago, Mike, a California Highway Patrol sergeant by trade with a real passion to coach, supervised a youth soccer team that included his 5-year-old son, Ryan. Even at that age, Ryan mirrored his father's determination.

"Those two were so uptight and serious even then that when the other boys were picking daisies during a game, it drove them both crazy," said Sonia, wife of Mike, mom of Ryan. "Then they found football."

What they found was a sport ideal for their intensity. It seemed natural for Ryan to fall for football. These days, he is the versatile senior leader for a No. 7 Del Campo High School team on which no one dares dance with the daisies.

And guess who his coach is? His dad.

Indeed, if there is a family name synonymous with football and success over the decades in the Sacramento region, it's Dimino.

Mike's father, Jim Dimino, was a legendary coach, having led a successful football program at El Camino from 1971 to 1993. His is a charmed retirement life, Jim said, with nary a worry at 75, except maybe a troublesome knee that makes the man shuffle along as if he has shrapnel lodged in his limbs.

Mike jokes that his old man likes to shuffle because it's old-school coaching cool, and he is too "chicken" to get surgery. Jim admits "it's my Italian pride" that makes him hold off on surgery.

Jim also works as the color analyst for the weekly Access Sacramento High School Game of the Week.

"Retirement has been great, and I recommend it to anyone," said Jim, still with the trademark combination of nice tan and shock of Hollywood hair that would make actor George Hamilton envious.

Jim didn't have the chance to coach his son in the 1970s – Mike played for rival Mira Loma – but he experienced the next best thing. He coached Ryan. Jim agreed when Mike pleaded for him to lead the Del Campo freshman team for one season three years ago, and the old coach proved he still had it. The Del Campo frosh went unbeaten.

"I needed a coach, and what better guy than my dad?" Mike said. "It was neat to see. I think it made my dad younger."

These days, Jim watches his grandson pile up an average of more than 400 yards of total offense each week while playing quarterback and tailback. Ryan also regularly knocks people around as a linebacker, his likely position at UC Davis.

Grandpa especially marvels at what his son has done with four roles, juggling each without dropping any balls – father, husband, CHP officer, coach.

"I don't know if many people can do that," Jim said. "I am impressed. I know it's not easy. I can see how it wears Mike out at the end of every season, but he loves what he does, and he's good at what he does."

Sonia knew what she was getting into when she met Mike at Sacramento State. Mike wanted to get into law enforcement and hoped to squeeze in football, too. And coaching a son? Pure joy.

"I wish I had a passion like (Mike) does for football," she said. "You don't tell someone you love not to do what they love to do. Not that it's always been easy."

What maintains the family balance – and sanity, Sonia cracks – are some simple rules. Saturday is date night for Mike and Sonia, who have been married 26 years. Sunday has always been family night at the dinner table, no exceptions.

All topics are explored on date night, including Sonia prodding Mike to appreciate Ryan's efforts more verbally. Not an easy thing for a stubborn coach to do, when the best compliment might just be a slight shake of the head.

Said Mike: "It's something I need to work on more, giving compliments. I think my players know I love them. And I'm very proud of what Ryan has done."

Coaching a son requires a delicate balance. Coach Dimino is wise to play his best players at the most prominent positions, and no one argues that the best player is Ryan.

It can be the most difficult coaching assignment – dealing with any rumblings of nepotism while not being excessively hard on your son. It can also be the most rewarding.

"I know the feeling can be that he plays because he's my son," coach Dimino said. "He also happens to be pretty good. I think it's harder on him. And I am hard on him. I can't imagine any quarterbacks hitting the blocking sled, but I make him do it.

"And Ryan's mad at me. He wants to play more linebacker. He argues that he's started 20-something varsity games at linebacker and now he only gets a few downs. He's got a point, but I can't risk wearing him out."

Ryan said he rolls with it. He said he is having the time of his teenage life.

"I love playing for my dad," Ryan said. "I'm very proud to play for him and very proud of the family name."

Call The Bee's Joe Davidson, (916) 321-1280.