This day in sports history

BY COLIN “BIG C” MACGUIRE

The Greenville Standard

 

Alabama Basketball Coach C.M. Newton was the head coach at Alabama from 1968-1980.

C.M. is short for Charles Martin. Coach Newton was native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

He was a member of the 1951 Kentucky team that finished as National Champions. He played for the legendary Adolph Rupp.

Newton’s first head coaching job was at Transylvania College in Lexington, Ky., from 956-1968.

On Rupp’s recommendation, Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant hired Newton.

The first season was very bad at 4-20. The next two seasons showed improvement, but were still below 500.

The fourth season was Newton’s first winning season at 18-8. The next five seasons were 20+win seasons.

1972-73 NIT, was the first postseason team at Alabama. The 1974-75 and 1975-76 teams made it to the NCAA Tournament.

Newton resigned in 1980. He then spent one year with SEC Office, was head coach at Vanderbilt, and then athletic director at Kentucky.

Newton then moved back to Tuscaloosa and on June 4, 2018, he passed away. He was highly thought of in intercollegiate athletics.