Athletics dining facility renamed in honor of Liberty Football spiritual mentors

At a ceremony before the Liberty Flames Football game vs. New Mexico State on Sept. 9, Liberty University Athletics announced the naming of the Gomes and Redding Athletics Dining Hall, located on the second floor of Carter Tower at Williams Stadium.

The facility, which provides daily meals for student-athletes, has been named in honor of Dan Redding and Dr. Ed Gomes, two men who chose daily to honor God through Liberty Football and shared in fulfilling the vision of Liberty’s founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, to Train Champions for Christ.

Both men heavily invested in the people they encountered during their time on Liberty Mountain.

Redding was a member of the Liberty Football coaching staff from 1977-86, serving as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. He used the sport of football as his mission field, and his coaching philosophy focused on teaching players how to use their God-given abilities as a platform to share their faith with others.

Gomes has been a fixture on campus since he arrived in 1974 as a starting point guard on the Liberty Men’s Basketball team, where he set career records for steals and assists. He has faithfully served God and Liberty in his roles as the residence dean, dean of commuter students, and director of spiritual development for football.

Gomes authored a discipleship book as a manual for coaches, parents, and leaders to cultivate and shape relationships with the next generation. His impact on and off the field of play has influenced countless individuals for the Kingdom.

The naming of the Gomes & Redding Athletics Dining Hall was made possible by Jon and Jennifer McClure of Greenville, S.C. Jon played football at Liberty from 1979-81, where he said his life was profoundly impacted by Gomes and Redding. The McClures chose to support Liberty through a naming opportunity that would honor both Gomes’ and Redding’s walks with Christ.

Jon’s parents, Bob and Fran McClure, supported Dr. Falwell during the 1970s through their Christian radio ministry; they broadcast the “Old Time Gospel Hour” on stations across the country and later started The Life FM radio. Jon’s brother, Mark, and his wife, Susan, have also invested time and finances to support Liberty Athletics and students in the School of Business and the School of Aeronautics.

“We are blessed by the continued support of the McClure Family. They have left a legacy for their family on our campus and inspired others through their calling to Train Champions for Christ,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw said.

At the unveiling, Gomes and Redding were joined by former members of the Liberty Football team representing three decades of athletes who trained under the two honorees.

Formerly known as the Training Table, the Gomes and Redding Athletics Dining Hall serves all of Liberty’s 590-plus student-athletes for meals throughout the week. The facility is a part of the Flames Performance Health program and is catered by on-campus food services provider Sodexo, under the guidance of Liberty’s Sports Nutrition staff.

To learn more about leaving a legacy on campus through the gift of giving, visit the Legacy Giving page, or contact Jeff Alder at jtalder@liberty.edu.