MADISON TOWNSHIP — Matt Godsil may be the most interesting football coach to ever patrol a north central Ohio sideline.
The combination art teacher and gridiron boss was honored with a plaque midway through the first half of Friday night’s game with Lexington, recognizing 34 years of service in the Madison program, nine years as head coach.
“There’s nothing like Friday night football,” Godsil said. “If you’re driving along and you see those lights in the distance, it’s one of the most beautiful things in the world.”
Godsil talks passionately about his artwork, too. A true Renaissance Man, he took a trip to Ireland recently and painted a number of landscapes from his sketches. That work was featured in a show in July 2016 at The Phoenix in downtown Mansfield.
“You get those 30 days after football season and (painting) was like going to my happy place,” Godsil said.
He began his career at Madison as a junior high football coach and art teacher in 1983. He moved up to a varsity assistant under Dana Woodring and was part of a thrilling era in the early 1990s that saw the Rams reach as high as No. 4 in the Division I state poll, and make a couple of playoff appearances.
Godsil rose to the head coaching position and led the Rams to their first playoff victory in school history over Sylvania Southview in 2005.
“With the great success that Dana had, (winning a playoff game) was something we had to do to build off that and take the program to the next level,” Godsil said. “That team had Zach Rupert and Seth Siringer, just some great kids.”
Godsil walked away from the head coaching position when his father entered hospice care in Mount Vernon. He spent time with him until his death, and then joined the staff of Sean Conway and was part of another playoff win under that regime — a thrilling victory over Westlake.
He volunteered to help this season on Friday nights, but notes his contributions are limited with other interests nibbling at his attention.
“We have six grandkids in Virginia. In fact, we’re leaving for a Saturday party down there for the 1-year-old and 3-year-old,” Godsil said with a smile.
Still, he says it’s nearly impossible to ignore the pull of those Friday night lights. He is undecided on his coaching plans for the future, but don’t count him out of the profession.
“I want to be available to do whatever they need me to do to help. It would be too hard for me to stop (coaching) cold turkey,” Godsil said. “There are so many lessons in football, taking a lot of kids from boyhood into manhood, the value of teamwork. It’s a great game with a lot of life lessons.”
Godsil says he plans to continue in the district as an art teacher, and relishes his time at the school.
“We have a lot of friends here and I really enjoy what I’m doing,” he said.
