Butler named as CHS football coach

CLOVERDALE -- At a meeting of the Cloverdale School Board Monday night John Butler was announced as the new high school football coach.

Butler currently coaches at Bloomington North High School as a receiver coach.

He said he was happy to join the community.

"My wife and I have been pretty picky as far as looking for our first opportunity to be a significant part of a community in terms of being the head coach of a sport. This community is one we've had our eye on for a while," he said.

Butler said he enjoys the small town atmosphere that Cloverdale offers and the opportunity to have a grade school, middle school and high school that are close together.

"They all feed together and it's a nice opportunity to have influence over a small groups of people," he said.

Butler said he was aware of the microscope that small towns can focus on high school football programs and said he was ready for it.

"As long as we run a character-first program we'll be doing some special things that they can be proud of around here," he said.

Butler indicated he was going to try and focus on being honest with his players.

"Honesty with the kids is a good thing. Kids these days are more enlightened then they were 10, 15, 20 years ago. They can see through smoke screens, so it's important to just be myself," Butler said.

Butler will be running a three day-a-week after-school camp starting March 28 for fifth to eighth graders. Monday and Wednesday will focus on skills, while Friday will feature a more game like environment, such as flag football.

"Friday's a chance to let the kids be kids," Butler said.