Curt Newsome

Curt Newsome ‘82 achieved success at every stop in his 41-year coaching career across the high school and college game. A 1982 graduate of Emory & Henry, Newsome returned to his alma mater in January 2014 and served as Head Coach for 10 seasons.

Curt got his first job at Ervinton High School. In 1983, just his second year coaching, he was promoted to head coach. He returned to the Tidewater in 1987 and spent the next 12 years at Kecoughtan and Heritage High Schools. During his 16 years as head coach, Curt compiled a 105-45 record and earned five district and three region coach of the year awards. In 1998, he was also named the Virginia State Coach of the Year.

Curt joined the college ranks in 1999 when he was hired at James Madison University. The Dukes immediately saw success, claiming Atlantic-10 Conference titles in 1999 and 2004 and the 2004 NCAA Division I FCS National Championship. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2003, a position he held for three years, and would return to Harrisonburg under the same title for the 2013 season.

In 2006, Newsome joined the staff at Virginia Tech. In his seven years in Blacksburg, the Hokies won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships and went to a bowl game each season including a marquee win in the 2009 Orange Bowl.

In his 10 seasons at Emory & Henry, Newsome guided the Wasps to a 53-42 record with five winning seasons. He was named ODAC Coach of the Year in his first season as the Wasps finished in a four-way tie for first at 8-2. Newsome also led the Wasps to the 2020 ODAC Championship Game and coached Devontae Jordan to the Lanier Award for his record-breaking performance during the 2021 season. Under his guidance, Emory & Henry transitioned into NCAA Division II and the South Atlantic Conference.

Curt coached 76 All-ODAC and 18 All-SAC performers, 46 all-state and 12 all-region players. He also had a player named a Second Team All-American, an Academic All-American and a Lanier Award winner.

As an undergraduate, Curt was a four-year starter at defensive tackle and a two-time All-ODAC selection. He was also a standout on the baseball diamond, where he was a three-year letterwinner and finished with a 3.31 ERA during the 1978 season.