Staff Profile: David “Fumblerooski” Hall

We got the opportunity to sit down and get to know David Hall, who is just about the easiest person to talk to, ever. He is so clearly overflowing with gratitude for his opportunity to serve in camp ministry. From a high school football coach to a director of a youth camp, read David’s unique story of how he ended up at Pine Cove. Settle in, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get to know one of Pine Cove’s newest directors.

What is your position?
Director of Outback. 

How long have you been working at Pine Cove and how did you end up here?
I’ve been here for one year, and it’s been a crazy road to get here. My wife and I were family campers at Crier Creek starting in 2013. When we got married we always said how much we love camp ministry and how that would be so cool to do together. 

When we started coming to family camp, we just loved everything about it, and during our last few summers there, we just started feeling the Lord tugging on our hearts. It wasn’t a camp high like, “we don’t want to leave,” it was more like the Lord saying, “I don’t want you to leave.”  

Through various conversations we had with Pine Cove leadership, we discussed what it would it look like to lock arms with them. The Lord opened some doors and I started as the Director of Retreats and IWS in January of 2019. But then during week nine of that summer, I was introduced as the Associate Director of the Ridge. And shortly after that, I got moved over to the Outback as the Director. It’s been a great ride!

What is your camp name and how did you get it?
Fumblerooski. I was a high school football coach for 16 years. It’s also based on one of my most embarrassing moments, which was when I was in high school and I was returning a punt. Instead of catching the football, it bounced right off my helmet and the other team recovered it and scored. Then I was asked about hobbies, and I said I love to ski. So it’s also based on a time where I was skiing with my dad and he had a big wipe out, so the crowd said I basically “fumbled” my dad.

Tell us about your family.
My wife is Ashley and we’ve been married nearly 14 years. We met our first year out of college while we were both coaches. We have three kids—Anna Lou, Graham, and Boone. 

What is one story from your time in Pine Cove’s ministry that vividly sticks out in your memory?
Just the path that God has taken us on to get us where we are today. Through the journey of my time at Pine Cove, I have seen God be so faithful. James 1 teaches us about seeking wisdom and not doubting. We were able to seek wisdom from God, without doubting, and then saw God’s provision. We bought a house and it turned out that it was across the street from other camp directors at the time, Pat “Michelangelo” Preston, Joe “Quatro” Dalton, and Austin “Homestar Runner” Langemeier. God made our direction so clear.  

And I would be foolish not to say this: the full-time and summer staff have had such an awesome influence on my kids. What a blessing that is! We are just so blessed by this ministry and the opportunity to be a part of it. God has done such crazy things since we have been here.

Most epic skit character you’ve ever witnessed.
Any skit character played by Jerad “Pile Driver” Birch.

I have seen him myself.  Good choice!

You’re stranded on a desert island with two other Pine Cove staffers… who do you choose and why?
Jeff “Rawhide” Olchesky, because he could probably make us the coolest shelter in the whole wide world and also for his Biblical knowledge and accountability. Colton “Toad” Venner because he would keep us laughing.  

(David laughs). The number of tears I’ve cried because of how hard I’ve laughed at Colton Venner. I have never laughed harder in my whole entire life than when I watched him in a skit at staff retreat last year.

What are some of your favorite things right now?
Hanging out with my kids. Time in the Word. Morning jogs. My wife’s cooking.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
I have used this verse so much in the past year that it’s just really stuck with me and has become my favorite verse.  

It’s 1 Corinthians 2: 2, which says, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

I was a football coach who came to work at camp, so I didn’t know much about camp or what I was doing, but what I know is Christ and Him crucified, and that’s enough. I will learn the rest.

How has camp changed you?
I have just been so humbled since I have been here and getting to be around so many fantastic people on a daily basis. I don’t even deserve to be here, but I am just so thankful.

Anything else the people need to know?
Just how fortunate my family and I feel to be a part of this ministry. We are so blessed and we thank the Lord every day that we get to do this together. It’s just awesome!