Geary's new head football coach was on hand last Wednesday night to introduce himself to the school board, and he spoke to The Geary Star about his hopes for the program.
Jason Goodknight is joining the Bison from Hinton, where he served as an assistant under head coach Grant Potter. Goodknight previously coached an eight-man squad in Strother before joining the Comets' staff.
Goodknight told the Star he wants to create "a family-oriented program" in the Geary athletic department alongside his wife, Bridget, who will become the Bison softball coach.
"That's one of the things I always wanted to do when I have my own program," he said. "We're going to be mentors for those kids. We're going to be role models."
Goodknight said he wants to make a personal connection with his players and students. He will also work as a history teacher while in Geary.
"When you come in the hallway, you're going to find me out here. I'm going to be joking with the kids, I'm going to be talking to them. If I know a kid needs something, I'm going to find out what they need and help them find help."
Goodknight said his passion for coaching and kids was inspired by his own high school coaches, who often gave him rides to practice and even helped him get health insurance to guard against football injuries despite his family's modest means. Their sacrifices shaped his own attitude about teaching, Goodknight said, and trying to pass on that legacy.
"Whatever I can do to make that impact on the kids' lives. Because ultimately, that's what this is about: It's about the kids."
Goodknight said he specializes in coaching the players in the trenches along the offensive and defensive lines. But in Hinton, he said, many of the coaches had the same experience. Goodknight volunteered to coach a different position and ended up coaching the wide receivers and defensive backs — experience he says will be invaluable in Geary.
Goodknight said he's prepared for a return for the wide-open eight-man game.
"It's a fast-paced game," he said. "If you've got kids with speed, once they hit that linebacker level, if they break that linebacker level, they're usually going to have a big gain, or score. ... That's why a lot of the eight-man game is so high-scoring."
When he's not on the field or in the classroom, Goodknight said he enjoys fishing and spending time with his young grandchildren, one of whom was born just weeks ago. He grew up and graduated in Allen.