C. M. Newton

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Charles Martin (C. M.) Newton (born February 2, 1930 in Rockwood, Tennessee^[1]) is a retired American basketball player, coach, and administrator. He was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a Contributor on October 13, 2000.

Contents 1 College career 2 Coaching career 2.1 Transylvania University 2.2 University of Alabama 2.3 Vanderbilt University 3 Administrative career 3.1 NCAA Rules Committee 3.2 University of Kentucky 3.3 USA Basketball 4 References

[edit] College career

Newton was a two sport player at the University of Kentucky, playing both baseball and basketball. As a reserve guard/forward, he was part of the Wildcats' national championship team in 1951 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp, though Newton himself averaged only 1.2 points per game.^[2] As a pitcher, he helped the Wildcats baseball team reach the NCAA tournament, and after college, signed a minor league baseball contract with a New York Yankees farm system. Newton finally forsake baseball after the births of his two daughters.^[3]

[edit] Coaching career

Newton's coaching career spanned 30 years and three institutions.

[edit] Transylvania University

By 1956, Newton had landed his first basketball coaching job at Transylvania University (then Transylvania College) in Lexington, Kentucky on a recommendation by Rupp.^[4] Newton compiled a 169-137 record at Transylvania^[5], leading them to the 1963 NAIA Tournament. While at Transylvania, he recruited the school's first black player, effectively integrating the school's basketball program.^[3]

Newton was inducted into Transylvania's Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1992.^[6]

[edit] University of Alabama

In 1968, legendary football coach and athletic director Paul "Bear" Bryant, who had been the coach for the University of Kentucky's football team during Newton's playing days, called coach Adolph Rupp looking for someone to turn around the University of Alabama's basketball program. Rupp recommended Newton, who after twelve seasons at Transylvania, left Lexington for Tuscaloosa.^[3]

In twelve seasons at Alabama, Newton led the Crimson Tide to a record of 211-123. The Crimson Tide won three straight Southeastern Conference titles under Newton (1974, 1975, and 1976), the only program besides the University of Kentucky to accomplish this feat.^[3] Newton also guided Alabama to four NIT and two NCAA tournament berths, prompting the school to name a recruiting suite in his honor in 2006.^[7]

Just as he did at Transylvania, Newton recruited the Alabama's first black player, Wendell Hudson, in 1969, integrating his second team in as many coaching stops.^[1]

[edit] Vanderbilt University

After resigning from the University of Alabama in 1980 to become assistant commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, Newton had no intentions of coaching again until he was approached by Vanderbilt University athletics director Roy Kramer. After only one year as assistant commissioner, Newton became coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores^[3], leading them to a 129-115 mark in eight seasons^[5] and berths in the NCAA tournament in 1988 and 1989.^[1]

[edit] Administrative career

[edit] NCAA Rules Committee

From 1979 to 1985, Newton served as chair of the NCAA Rules Committee. During his tenure, the NCAA adopted the shot clock, the three point line, and the coaches box.^[1]

[edit] University of Kentucky

In 1989, Newton's alma mater, the University of Kentucky, came calling. Needing someone to replace athletic director Cliff Hagan and navigate the stormy waters of an NCAA probation, the university hired Newton.^[8] Newton's first move as AD was to hire then-New York Knicks coach Rick Pitino.^[9] The move paid off in a big way, as the Wildcats bounced back from their probation with a core of mostly Kentucky-born players known affectionately to fans as "The Unforgettables". The group - consisting of Sean Woods, Deron Feldhaus, Richie Farmer, and John Pelphrey - lost in overtime in the East Regional final of the NCAA tournament to the Duke Blue Devils in a game many consider the greatest college basketball game ever played.^[10]

Newton also hired Bernadette Mattox, the university's first black women's basketball coach in 1995, and in 1997 hired Orlando "Tubby" Smith, the university's first black men's basketball coach, to replace Pitino, who took a head coaching job with the NBA's Boston Celtics.^[1] This, combined with his integration of the Transylvania and Alabama programs, solidified Newton's reputation as a social reformer in the game of college basketball.

On December 18, 1999, Newton was presented with the Annie Wittenmyer White Ribbon Award by the Women's Christian Temperance Union for refusing to allow alcohol advertising at university sporting events.^[11]

[edit] USA Basketball

From 1992 to 1996, Newton served as the president of USA Basketball. It was on Newton's watch that the decision was made to allow professional basketball players to represent the United States in the Summer Olympics. This decision gave rise to the 1992 "Dream Team" - possibly the greatest basketball team ever assembled.^[1]

Preceded by Hugh Jones

Transylvania University men's basketball coach[12] 1956–1968

Succeeded by Lee Rose

Preceded by Hayden Riley

University of Alabama men's basketball coach[13] 1969–1980

Succeeded by Wimp Sanderson

Preceded by Richard Schmidt

Vanderbilt University men's basketball coach[14] 1981–1989

Succeeded by Eddie Fogler

Preceded by Cliff Hagan

University of Kentucky athletics director 1989–2000

Succeeded by Larry Ivy

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} C. M. Newton Bio at the Basketball Hall of Fame
2. ^ C. M. Newton Career Statistics at BigBlueHistory.com
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Recognizable Class - Published in Kentucky Alumnus
4. ^ University of Kentucky Education Hall of Fame - C. M. Newton
5. ^ ^{a b} Kentucky House Bill 190
6. ^ Transylvania University Pioneer Hall of Fame - Class of 1992
7. ^ C.M. Newton Recruiting Suite to be Dedicated Wednesday
8. ^ Newton Goes Home - Published in The New York Times
9. ^ Motivation at the core of Pitino's success
10. ^ Cawood: Kentucky Remembers a Legend
11. ^ C. M. Newton Presentation Announcement - Women's Christian Temperance Union
12. ^ Transylvania University 2004 Basketball Media Guide
13. ^ Alabama Head Coaches All-Time Record Breakdown
14. ^ Vanderbilt University Men's Basketball Year-by-Year