Legendary Coach Joe Newton of York IL Passes Away

By Michael Newman of DyeStat

[email protected]

Former York High School cross country and track and field coach Joe Newton passed away in his sleep Saturday morning at his home in Goodyear, Ariz. He was 88 years old.

Newton had been in hospice care for the past week. 

Mr. Newton was a teacher and a coach from 1956 until he retired as coach of the cross country team in November 2016.

He became the school’s cross country coach in the fall of 1960. Two years later, his team won the school’s first Illinois state cross country title. While he was coach, the “Long Green Line” won 28 state cross country titles. He also coached a winning state championship track and field team in his final year of coaching the squad in 2000. His cross country teams won numerous national titles, thanks to rankings by magazines such as Harrier. His 2004 team was the inaugural winner of the Nike Team Nationals.

In 1988, Mr. Newton was the first high school coach named to a United States Olympic coaching position when he was named to the staff for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He was in charge of the marathon runners. He was named National Coach of the Year four times. 

Mr. Newton also was the author of four books that focused on aspects of motivation and distance training for the high school athlete. A movie was made about his 2005 team entitled: The Long Green Line.

Mr. Newton is and will remain an influence to those who are coaching now and those that will coach in the future. His legacy lives on with every man that ran for him.

As he often said after a big victory, "How sweet it is."

Family statement from Thomas Newton:

Good Afternoon All,

I just wanted to take a moment let you all know that today is a sad day for not only myself and the Newton family but also the Elmhurst running community, with the past, and present men of the YORK Cross Country program. This morning at 4:00 am Arizona time my father Joseph R. Newton III passed away. 

Additionally, I would to ask the community and runners of the York Cross Country program as well as friends to please respect the wishes of our family. My... father was very much a family man first. The family wishes are to keep the funeral private and for the family. However, we will be having memorial at a later time in early to mid-January. My hope is to have the memorial at YORK and I am working with the district now to that end. When I get details, I will forward them to this site as well as the Mr. Newton Celebration sight on Facebook as well as the Y82 reunion website. 

To those of you who called earlier today I did not want to let anyone know the condition of my father. However, to many people had been made aware of my dad's passing. I did want to gather as much information as I could before saying something but as the day progressed I could not let this go any further without saying something. So I am doing this now without alot of detail in the hopes that we will not be overwhelmed with phone calls. However, if you need to speak to someone in the family feel free to call me at 224-650-9451 or email me at [email protected] I will make every attempt to get back to you within 24 - 48 hours. 

Please at this difficult time give our family time to heal and prepare for a celebration of life that I know my father deserves so that we all can reflect on the impact that he has had on all of our lives. Thank you all.

The Family is asking in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Joe Newton Scholarship Award of Excellence. Donations can be made online by going to the Dupage Foundation Website at dupagefoundation.org and do a search for the Joe Newton Scholarship Award of Excellence. Thank you all once again for your concern and well wishes.

Statements from Coaches

James Akita – Elmhurst College

Not a day goes by that I don't use one of the hundreds of motivational life lessons Mr. Newton taught me as a runner at York. He encouraged me to stick with running after I wanted to quit my freshman year and encouraged me as a coach a decade later. His legacy will last forever, and I owe him more than I can even put into words. You will never be forgotten. Proud to be a York High School alum, proud to have been mentored/coached by him, and proud to have known Mr. Newton.

Bill Aris – Fayetteville-Manlius HS

I had the honor of spending some quality time with Mr. Newton in the early NXN/NTN years. It was a thrill for me and it was a real good camaraderie and time to communicate with him. His York boys teams were powerful and my Stotans and his guys would lock horns and there was nothing but mutual respect. I thought the world of the guy. Probably our coaching styles were a little bit different, but in some ways old-school similar. He produced great ones. He produced people of great character and his kids were a reflection of him. I have nothing but respect for him and his legacy.

Pat Tyson  -- Mead WA/Gonzaga University

Besides winning at the highest level, Joe demanded excellence in every way from his athletes. I am a better coach because of Mr. Joe Newton. Thank God his legacy of The Long Green Line will live on through his wonderfully written books and inspirational video.

John O'Malley -- Sandburg IL

The environment and place that Newton left Illinois is just amazing and we owe it to him. I felt that getting ready to come (to Foot Locker) this weekend. The competitive environment that he started and built up and that other people responded to and learned from (perpetuates his legacy). We've had 10 different teams from Illinois qulaify for Nike Cross Nationals.

Paul Vandersteen - Neuqua Valley IL

Mr. Newton is a pioneer of distance running excellence in Illinois and the country. He taught us that caring for your athletes was far more important than any workout plan. I know for sure Neuqua Valley would not be where it is today without him. For, he was giving to me as he was to his own athletes. I am going to miss that barking voice and his passion for the sport.

Jim Macnider - Schaumburg/Harper College IL

I have been involved in CC and Track for 50+ years and Coach Newton has been an influence in one way or another every step of the way. As a high school senior in 1968 we were in awe of York as they demolished the field at the Maine East district meet. Back then there were 30+ teams in each district and only the top 2 qualified for the state meet. Behind York was Evanston, Proviso West, Maine West, New Trier. Then as a senior at North Central we ran the NCAA College Division championships at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton. As I rounded the last turn to head for the finish there was this guy in green yelling at me to sprint at the top of his lungs. As a high school coach I was fortunate enough to coach some successful teams and athletes. This first time we won the state meet Coach Newton was the first person to congratulate us and sent me a hand written letter that I still have. The significance of that championship and and the atmosphere at the Illinois state meet are due to Coach Newton. He made it special. Cross country in Illinois has lost the man who elevated our sport that Roy Gummerson started in Illinois, to one that stands on its own as a true fall spectacle. Thank you Joe Newton, may you rest in peace, I will miss you.