Benton, Derek Wilson part Ways

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Benton football coach Derek Wilson won’t return next season.

The St. Joseph School District posted the opening Wednesday afternoon, the culmination of several weeks of negotiations with Wilson. Benton activities director Mike Ziesel said in a statement that the two sides were unable to come to agreement on Wilson’s needs for his coaching staff.

Wilson said he was offered a contract to coach football next year but didn’t sign it.

“It definitely was not a resignation. It’s a little tricky,” Wilson said.

Wilson confirmed that the problems stemmed from the football staff and forced him to make a difficult decision. He said concerns about his staff started in 2004 and were never resolved.

“There were some things I thought I needed in order to be able run our program the way it needs to be done right,” Wilson said. “We tried to come to an agreement on those things, and we just couldn’t get there.”

Wilson, a 1991 Benton graduate, spent five years as head coach at his alma mater, compiling a 27-25 record. He led the Cardinals to the playoffs three times (2004-06), including a trip to the Class 4 semifinals in 2004.

Benton went 2-7 this past season.

“I’ll have time to reflect on it more obviously over the upcoming weeks,” Wilson said, “but when you put as much time into your job — as any good coach does — you build some very special relationships. Obviously, you just have a lot invested in it — not just because I’m a Benton alum and a South Side kid.

“It’s tough. I wish we could’ve gotten those things worked out.”

Ziesel said Wilson has signed a teaching contract with the St. Joseph School District, and Wilson said as of now he plans to return as a teacher next year. It hasn’t been determined what school or position he will occupy next year.

Wilson currently serves as a physical education teacher at Benton.

“I think you start looking right away,” he said. “Like any job you experience, it gives you a little bit more knowledge, and hopefully you use that knowledge in a good way.

“In regards to where I’ll coach or when, it’ll just have to be the right situation. Regrettably, it’s time to move on, and it’s a little bit sooner than I wanted it to be.”