A Legend has passed: Joe Newton RIP 1929-2017

Rest in peace. One of the first XC coaches I ever heard about when I first started running three years ago. Will be dearly missed by many.

Joe’s passing hits home to me in a personal way (beyond reflecting on our own inevitable mortality). My father as a very young man coached cross country and track at a Chicago surburban school, and he had quick success, managing to beat Joe’s guys to win the state meet and having a few runners who were at the top of the high school ranks nationally. Not only was my father a rival to Joe, my grandparents lived two blocks from York High School and knew Joe very well. My grandfather, a titan of industry with awards such as Illinois Man of the Year and so on, was a tough minded and brilliant guy, a product of the Depression, and sparse in his praise. He never once referred to Joe in any other terms than glowing. Joe also treated my brother and me with tremendous respect in our younger years (we too won state championships when we reached high school). Truly a life well lived, as evidenced by so many who pay tribute.

My father went into business in his mid to late 20’s, leaving coaching. In his own Gatsbyesque way, he did very well. And with the benefit of experience, I can see why he left. He wanted to make money, and wanted to live up to his father. It makes me reflect on what really matters, though. Giving so much to so many young people is incalculable, and and in the end, since we all end up in the same state on our day of reckoning, what else could matter more than helping so many young people find a place in this world?

Suburban Chicago was Pax Americana in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. Joe Newton York teams were inextricably bound up within that fabric. Just as with the lifestyle and economics of those decades, we won’t see another Joe Newton again.

During the pre-Olympic US-based period in 1984, Seb Coe sought out Joe Newton and visited with him. I don't have his text to hand but I'm sure someone here does. Considering who he was by 1984, Coe's tribute to Newton was impressive and informative.

RIP. I was trying to explain to my wife, who is not a runner, who he was, and best I could come up with was that he was probably the only high school coach almost every serious runner has heard of.

Never met him or anyone who ran for him, but his legacy looms large.

As a high school coach in northern Wisconsin, and after seeing the incredible success the York program was having , I made the trip to Illinois one year to check out their State Meet and more importantly, Joe Newton. It was a great day weather wise and the York team did what many York teams had done for years and years, and Joe Newton was every much the character I had read about and had gone to see. One man, for over a half a century, has motivated a bunch of young men to greatness which has ultimately raised the bar to an incredible standard, not just in Illinois, but across the country.

He may be gone, but his legacy will live forever through those who are fortunate enough to be involved in the great sport of cross country!

Dukes of York wrote:

Please dont(sic) put yourself on the same level as Joe Newton or even try to compare. Please stop polluting his tribute thread.

And where exactly did he say he was on the same level as Coach Newton? Here's a hint: he made no such claim. He, like others in this thread, offered an example of how they were influenced or inspired by Coach Newton. If anyone has "polluted" this thread with garbage unrelated to honoring this man, it is you.

I'm awed by what I know of Joe Newton's legacy, and some of the expressions offered on this forum really strike home by reminding me of a truly great man. I particularly like what Personal perspective wrote:

Giving so much to so many young people is incalculable, and and in the end, since we all end up in the same state on our day of reckoning, what else could matter more than helping so many young people find a place in this world?

I had the unfortunate experience of having a high school coach who didn't even attempt to motivate us young kids -- young, impressionable kids who, no doubt, would have responded to a coach like Joe in positive ways. Not just with personal improvement against the clock.

I am fortunate to know coaches who represent the next generation of Joe Newton. To watch their boys and girls succeed on personal levels -- and that applies to the plodders as well as the elites -- is undeniably inspirational. Joe, in a way, continues to lead the pack.

Not sure what the inside story is with Marty Moose but his comments were very respectful and sincere. Whatever the problem is could have been dealt with privately. I Hope we can move on with the purpose of the thread.

Mr Newton spoke at my high school XC banquet back in 1973. What a treat. My high school coach was humble enough to bring him in and i am thankful for that. His talks did not change much over the next 40 years nor did his enthusiasm or passion. I loved listening to him defend his high mileage approach to the critics who he always beat and who could not come close to his knowledge, passion or energy.

My father-in-law worked the backstretch ticket gate at the State Track Finals for 20+ years and he once asked me "who is that coach ?" I told him and asked "why do you ask?" " He said every year he comes through this gate and stops to talk to me for 2 or 3 minutes. No one else does that." Everyone was important to Joe Newton - RIP

A legend.

Spent a couple days running with them at his summer camp, he definitely knew how to get his guys motivated. More than that, he motivated every other boys team throughout the state that looked at York with awe and something to aspire to be. It was hard to ever think that some workout was too hard or some run too long when you'd hear stories about what they were doing at York. Everyone aspired to catch them, very few did. I don't think teams like Neuqua Valley that came to national prominence in the 2000s when York was still unbeatable would have done so without their presence.

RIP. My team and I have great memories watching "The Long Green Line" yearly at our summer xc camp. Incredible person.

Inspirational..a coach making the whole greater than the sum of it's parts

I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Newton speak in ‘73 or ‘74 at a track seminar in California. He came to American River College for Al Beata’s track and field seminar when I was helping as a student. He was great and inspiring. I had the privilege of driving him around, sweet man. A great loss for the sport.R.I.P.

He lived a hell of a life.

RIP

Rest easy Joe. You gave wings to a generation.

Mr Newton lived a great life. Very thankful for him. Met him a few times but only really knew him through being influenced by many who passed through his program. He is the counter to anyone asserting that you have to choose between being a good person and a fierce competitor. The two things about him that really stick with me: First, always pursue excellence. Second, always treat everyone with the deep value and respect they deserve. You’ll never regret either of those things. RIP.

I saw Joe Newton speak twice in Iowa, once in Minnesota.

He said to me after the third time I met him---why do you keep coming to see me---what do you think is so special? (I am paraphrasing him but he said something like this.)

I also have about 4-6 of his videos.

I ran in Illinois from 2004-2008. I was in awe of York's dominance during my time in high school. When I was an impressionable Freshman watching the state track meet in 2005, I saw York runners go 1-2 in the 3200 (Sean McNamara and a Dettman), 1600 (Sean McNamara and the other Dettman) and also win the 4x800. From then on I thought of York as a program of champions and I admired Mr. Newton as the mastermind who built it all. As a senior, I remember feeling extremely proud when I beat a two York runners at the Peoria Notre Dame Invite where York ran their B squad.

The thing that most stuck with me about Mr. Newton was his booming voice. When the Long Green Line came out my team watched it a few times. Then at practice we would throw around all the great lines in our best Joe Newton's impressions. My personal favorites: "However fast you are running... RUN FASTER!" And "67! God Damn it Nick, if you don't want to run at state just tell me!" Only when I watched the movie again last year did I have full appreciation for the great platitudes that voice doled out on a daily basis.

Amazing man. RIP.

Swoosh13 wrote:

Spent a couple days running with them at his summer camp, he definitely knew how to get his guys motivated. More than that, he motivated every other boys team throughout the state that looked at York with awe and something to aspire to be. It was hard to ever think that some workout was too hard or some run too long when you'd hear stories about what they were doing at York. Everyone aspired to catch them, very few did. I don't think teams like Neuqua Valley that came to national prominence in the 2000s when York was still unbeatable would have done so without their presence.

I ran for Paul Vandersteen (Neuqua) back when he was at Waubonsie Valley. Can confirm we did aspire to catch York and that they set an example. Coach Vandersteen also takes the approach of caring about his runners as people more than athletes, which it seems is a model consistent with Mr Newton for sure.

As others said, Mr Newton influenced a lot of lives and many people are better off because of him.