Lebanon job becomes Childs play
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
A new face will be in charge of the Lebanon High School varsity football program this season, but it will be a familiar face as well.
Chris Childs, who played linebacker and halfback for Lebanon from 1991 to 1995, was hired to replace Rich Gonsalves last month. Childs, a 31-year-old Lebanon resident, coached the Lebanon Junior High team the past two seasons.
"Being a local kid and someone who's been through the program I hope I can put all three programs (Pee-Wee, Junior High and High School) under the same umbrella," Childs said. "The key is getting everybody on the same page."
Lebanon was 16-21 in four seasons under Gonsalves. The highlight of his tenure came in 2003, when the Raiders earned the No. 3 seed for the Division IV playoffs by going 7-2 during the regular season. Lebanon lost to Milford, 32-0, in the Division IV semifinals.
Lebanon has posted a 3-6 record in each of the last three seasons.
Childs, who played in the 1995 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, also spent one season as an assistant coach at Lebanon Junior High. Before that he served as an assistant coach at Windsor (Vt.) High School and at Stevens High School.
Childs works for Central Supply Inc., a plumbing and heating company in Lebanon. He said the Raiders will run a Wing-T offense and feature a defense with a 50 front.
Lebanon will likely rely heavily on senior fullback/linebacker C.J. Blackmon this fall.
"We could have 12 to 15 seniors, depending on who shows up," Childs said. "It's too early to tell what kind of team we're going to have, but if the kids come along it could turn into something special."
