The next time the Liberty County High School Panthers football team takes to the field at their home stadium, it will have a new name.

School board members agree naming the field at Donell Woods Stadium in honor of the late Kirk Warner, the former LCHS head football coach who died following a bout with cancer this summer.

“I think it is very deserving and a great honor,” said Lily Baker, chairwoman of the Liberty County Board of Education. “He was an awesome coach and an awesome man.”

Warner was the head coach at Liberty County for 20 seasons, leading the Panthers to 11 state playoff berths and three region championships. He had more than 1,000 players during his tenure, including two — Raekwon McMillan and Richard LeCounte — who went to the NFL.

Off the field, Warner was active in the community and was a deacon at Emmanuel Christian Church.

Warner also had been an assistant basketball coach. He came to Liberty County as an assistant football coach at Bradwell Institute and served as an assistant basketball coach. He later left to coach at his alma mater, Bleckley County, before being offered the head coaching spot at LCHS.

Warner played tight end at the University of Georgia.

Carol Hines of Emmanuel Christian Church asked board members at their October 11 meeting to consider naming the field at Donell Woods Stadium after Warner.

“His impact upon the hearts of our community, schools, church and family will always be felt,” she said. “His life served as an excellent example of what it means to lead and succeed.”

Board member Carol Guyett said it was an honor to know Warner and recalled seeing Warner running with the players in practices.

“He was truly, truly an honorable man and it was my pleasure to know him,” she said.