One of the most revered coaches in cross-country and distance running passed away Saturday, December 9. Joe Newton, author of the original edition of Human Kinetics' Coaching Cross Country Successfully, died at the age of 88 in his Arizona home. Newton coached for 57 years at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, winning 28 state championships and placing in the top three in 44 of those seasons. Known for his inspiring and vivacious personality, Newton typically carried well over 100 runners on his teams, as youngsters responded to his brand of discipline and encouragement, and challenging training regimens. Those workouts were among the most treasured, examined and copied in the sport, rivaling the interest in legendary coaches Arthur Lydiard, Percy Cerutty and Bill Bowerman training programs. It was no surprise, then, when Newton became the first high school coach assigned to an Olympic track and field coaching position for the 1988 games. Those of us who had the privilege to work with Joe on his book can attest to his mastery of motivational techniques and positive communication. He had a tremendous impact on coaching and the lives of the thousands of student-athletes he mentored over the years. #yorkathletics #crosscountry #running #coaching #coach