By Michael Newman

DyeStat Illinois Editor

[email protected]

Elmhurst --- York Athletic Director Rob Wagner announced Wednesday afternoon that longtime cross country coach for the school Joe Newton will retire at the end of the 2016 Cross Country Season. Newton, 87 years old, has been a teacher / coach with the school since 1956 when he was hired as a physical education teacher and an assistant coach for the track team. He was hired as the school’s Boys Cross Country Coach in 1960. Two years later, his team won the school’s first cross country state championship in Illinois.

Newton’s teams have won 28 state cross country championships and 1 track state championship in his 56 years as head coach of the team. 68 athletes have been all-state runners 105 times heading into this season according to the IHSA. Newton has coached four athletes who have become state champions in cross country: Ron Craker in 1975, Jim White in 1984, Donald Sage in 1999, and Sean McNamara in 2004. His cross country teams have won 45 trophies in his 56 years of cross country coaching including the 28 state championships. He is considered one of the top and most successful cross country coaches nationally and in this state.

Thomas Newton, oldest son of Mr. Newton, made this statement at the beginning of the press conference:

“It is with mixed emotions that I inform the City of Elmhurst, York Community High School, and all past and future York Community High School runners that my father Coach Joe Newton will be retiring at the end of this season of coaching. The last 60 years have been the best years of his life and I can tell you that he truly believes that York High School and the Elmhurst community is the greatest place to be. As you know, when coaching young high school athletes, a level of mobility is required to maintain a championship program. I know that my father’s mobility was such that he could keep up with the young men of the York Cross Country program that he would love nothing more than to continue with coaching. However, his mobility has been increasingly difficult to maintain at the level that is required to sustain such a program that he has built over the past 6 decades.

During the last few weeks, he and I have had numerous discussions on what is best for him. Additionally, we have spoken to him about what is best for the program and all future York Cross Country runners. We the family including my father in these discussions believe strongly that this is the best decision for all parties involved and that includes my father. I would also like to take this time to thank the District 205 administrative personnel very specifically Rob Wagner and the Principal of York High School, The City of Elmhurst, parents of the runners who come through the program, teachers who supported my father and the program, and most of all the Men of the Long Green Line for the love and support that they have given my father over the last 60 years.

What has made this decision possible is the thought of my dad’s successor would be none other than Mr. Charlie Kern. He will be always special to my family because we believe he will keep the legacy of the Long Green Line going for many years to come. Personally, I could not think of a more of a dedicated and a committed young man to lead the Dukes.

Thank you and God Bless York High School, the men of the Long Green Line, and the City of Elmhurst.”

VIEW THE ENTIRE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE

Charlie Kern, who has been a long time assistant coach for Mr. Newton and was named the Head Track Coach for York in 2015, was named the co-head coach along with Newton this upcoming season.

Newton announced in 1999 he would retire after the 1999-2000 school year. His cross country team set a modern day low score of winning the IHSA 2A State Championship with 24 points. In the spring, Newton’s squad won his first state track championship. After the 1999 state cross country meet, Newton decided to return as the cross country coach but retired from teaching.

“I pulled a “Michael Jordan” then (in 1999) leaving a small chance of coming back. The returning runners from that team talked me into coming back,” Newton said in a recent phone conversation. “This is it. I feel mentally great but I physically am in pain 24/7/365 with my upper leg injury. But, I feel good about the decision. I am at peace with that.”

Mr. Newton was named to the ITCCCA (Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association) Hall of Fame in 1984. He has been named the Illinois Cross Country Coach of the Year by ITCCCA 16 times and 15 times by the Illinois High School Coaches Association. He was named Coach of the Year in 1975 by the National High School Coaches Association and by the National Federation of High School Administrators in 1994.

In 1988, Newton was named one of the coaches for the United States Track & Field Team for the Games of the XXIV Olympiad in Seoul, South Korea. He was the first high school coach to be named to an Olympic Coaching position.

“I’ve never been in a hurry to be in charge because we all know what it really means. It means that he can’t do it anymore,” Kern said. “For a man that has impacted so many lives, I was in no hurry for this day to come. I have a heavy heart on one hand but have a great deal of excitement on the other that he feels worthy, that Rob (Wagner) feels me to be worthy, and that Erin (DeLuga, York Principal) feels worthy that I can pick up the program and continue to move it forward. For that, I am incredibly grateful.”

Newton Biography