Longtime Airport football coach stepping down after almost two decades at school
Kirk Burnett is stepping down as Airport High School’s football coach.
Burnett told The State on Wednesday he will remain at the school next year in a different capacity but won’t be coaching or the school’s athletic director. He also added that he is not being forced out but right time to step down.
“I have been a head coach since 1993. It’s time,” Burnett told The State. “I thought about it last year. And after doing it for so long, I feel it is a great time for me to step away.
“I have been fortunate to come back and coach where I grew up. To get to be around coach (Les) Evans before he passed away. All the buildings and renovations I got to watch as a player and then coaching there, it has been special and I am very fortunate.”
Burnett, an Airport High grad, has been at his alma mater the past 18 seasons. The Eagles went 2-8 this season and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Hartsville. Before Airport, he was the head football and baseball coach at Ridge View for nine seasons.
Burnett won 158 games, six region championships, four at Airport and two at Ridge View. He won four of Airport’s six region championships and led them to undefeated regular season in 2009.
Burnett was the first head coach in Ridge View history and led the Blazers to three straight Upper State championship games from 1996-98. Ridge View went 12-3 in 1998 and played for the Class 4A state championship.
Burnett also won several baseball region championships with the Blazers.
Burnett, 57, is in both schools’ halls of fame and also has coached in North-South All-Star game and Shrine Bowl. He coached in the I-20 All-Star game last month.
“How lucky can you get to be in the hall of fame at both schools you coached?,” Burnett said. “I have nothing to regret or complain about.”
Before becoming a head coach, Burnett was an assistant at Spring Valley and Irmo.
As a player, Burnett was a two-sport standout at Airport and was a four-year letterman in baseball and football at Furman University.
“I want to officially recognize Airport High’s own Coach Kirk Burnett. Thank you for such an amazing tenure as @AHS_Leads Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. What an impact on so many!” Airport principal Matt Schillit wrote on Twitter.
Schillit says he will post the job opening this week and hope to have the new coach/athletic director hired by sometime in February.
Burnett’s departure means there are four openings in the Midlands with the others AC Flora, Batesburg-Leesville and Newberry.
SC High School Football Openings
School — Former Coach — New Coach
AC Flora — Dustin Curtis— TBA
Airport — Kirk Burnett — TBA
Batesburg-Leesville — Gary Adams — TBA
Bluffton — John Haupt— TBA
Boiling Springs — Rick Tate — TBA
Dorman — Dave Guttshall — Dustin Curtis
Hilton Head Prep — Dave Adams — TBA
Lewisville — Will Mitchell — Leon Boulware
Newberry — Phil Strickland — TBA
North Augusta — Jim Bob Bryant — TBA
Oceanside Collegiate — Joe Call — TBA
Stall — Joe Bessinger — TBA
Travelers Rest — Ray Gould — TBA
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 4:50 PM.
