Goodchild will return to sidelines

VAN HORNE -- Kal Goodchild wants to win, sure.But more than anything, he wants the Benton Community football program to regain its identity."When you think of Benton football, you think of toughness and discipline," Goodchild said Thursday after the school released that he will return to the sideline next fall as head coach. "We've lost that, and we want to get that back."We've got to get numbers back, and we've got to get numbers back in the weight room."Goodchild, 53, compiled a 106-38 record with six district championships from 1992 through 2007, then stepped down to serve solely as the school's athletics director.Since then, Benton has compiled a 20-35 mark the past six years. The Bobcats' most recent playoff appearance was in 2008.Benton was 2-7 last season."I always said I would coach again," said Goodchild, who will become the middle-school principal. "I just didn't know if it would be here."Benton superintendent Gary Zittergruen said, "As we consider new direction for the football program at Benton Community, we truly believe that Coach Goodchild is the right answer for the student-athletes and the football program at this time. We know from the rich football history at Benton Community that Kal's teams will compete to the best of their ability and the school community will be proud of the manner in which the students represent the football program and Benton Community High School."Rob Arnold will succeed Goodchild as AD. Arnold is currently serving as middle school principal and high school AD at Independence.