Genoa Area Local Schools is naming its football stadium facility GenoaBank Stadium and Jim Firestone Field. GenoaBank has agreed to purchase naming rights to the high school football stadium.

Jim Firestone Field will honor Genoa’s longtime school supporter and partner in education, legendary Comet Hall of Fame coach, teacher, guidance counselor and administrator, Jim Firestone.

GenoaBank Stadium and Jim Firestone Field will both be officially dedicated prior to the kickoff against Lake High School on Friday, Sept. 30 at 6:40 p.m.

GenoaBank, locally owned and operated since 1902, has been a deep-rooted supporter of the Comet Community. The bank is proud to partner with Genoa Schools and shares a common interest with the district. The bank places emphasis on supporting the people, places and events that make the community a special place to live.

A long-standing community fundraiser, the Goal Post Gala, is primarily organized and orchestrated by GenoaBank under the leadership of Marty Sutter, long-standing President/CEO. Funds raised have directly contributed to upgrades and refurbishments to all athletic facilities and benefits students by helping them reach their highest athletic potential. GenoaBank has always been driven to serve each community’s financial needs and continues to provide the same friendly, personal service it has since day one.

Sutter, along with the entire GenoaBank team, is proud to recognize and share this honor with Jim Firestone in continuing to keep the Comet spirit. Firestone is Genoa’s all-time winningest football coach, compiling a record of 109-60-6 as head coach from 1959-76. He became head coach at the age of 24 and won three championships in five years (30-3-2 league record) in the Suburban Lakes League. Coach Firestone’s 1975 team was the school’s first 10-0 team and allowed just 32 points the entire season, cultivating a 20-game unbeaten streak.

Aside from being a top notch coach and educator, Firestone was the principal of Genoa High School for 10 of his 30 years at the school and 46 years in education. He devoted himself to promoting and supporting not only the district, but the community of Genoa.

Firetone joined the Genoa Kiwanis in 1960 and is still an active member, with 62 years of service. He received the George F. Hixon Fellowship Award, which is the highest honor of Kiwanis International.

Firestone has been a chair member and president of many community organizations and events, a board director of Genoa Zoning for over a decade, director of Veterans Memorial Park for 12 years, and received the Genoa Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding Professional Service in 2016.

Former players, former students, and community members who would like to reconnect with Firestone will have the ability to do so before the game at a reserved tent, which will be next to the Booster Barn. A formal community recognition and celebration of GenoaBank Stadium will take place Aug. 18, 2023 at the first home football game of the 2023 season. It will include a reveal of new stadium signage.

Genoa Area Local Schools would like to thank GenoaBank for their continued support and congratulate Jim Firestone on this accomplishment. Go Comets!