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C.M. Newton

C. M. Newton
Sport(s) Basketball, Baseball
Biographical details
Born (1930-02-02) February 2, 1930 (age 87)
Rockwood, Tennessee
Playing career
1949–1951 Kentucky
Position(s) Guard, Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1956–1968 Transylvania
1968–1980 Alabama
1981–1989 Vanderbilt
Head coaching record
Overall 340–238 (.588)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
  • 6x SEC Coach of the Year (1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1988, 1989)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2000
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

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

Born in Rockwood, Tennessee, 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. 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 gave up baseball after the births of his two daughters.

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

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

Newton was inducted into Transylvania's Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1992.

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 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.


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Wikipedia

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