EMORY, Va. - Due to health concerns, Curt Newsome, who has served Emory & Henry as head football coach for the past 10 years, announced on Tuesday, July 30 that he is stepping down, effective immediately. Additionally, assistant coach and offensive coordinator, Quintin Hunter, has been appointed interim head coach for the 2024 season.
"It's been a true honor to coach at my alma mater and has been a dream of a lifetime," said Newsome. "This has been a difficult decision, but I have to focus on my health and family at this time. Melinda and I appreciate everyone's support and well wishes as I continue my treatments."
In 10 years as Emory & Henry's head football coach, Newsome compiled a 53-42 record with six winning seasons. He was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 after leading the Wasps to an 8-2 record and took the team to the ODAC Championship game in the spring of 2021.
Additionally, Newsome guided Emory & Henry to back-to-back five-win seasons as the College transitioned from NCAA Division III to Division II and the ever-challenging South Atlantic Conference.
In Newsome's 10 seasons, 94 players received all-conference honors. Devontae Jordan won the Lanier Award as the best small college player in Virginia in 2021. Jay Swegheimer was the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year and a Second-Team All-American in the spring of 2021. Kevin Saxton (2014) and Justin Hill (2022) were selected as their respective conference rookies of the year.
Newsome became the 20th head coach in program history in January of 2014 after spending 15 years at the Division I level. He coached at James Madison University for eight years (1999-05, '13), helping lead the Dukes to the 2004 FCS National Championship. Between his two stints in Harrisonburg, Newsome was an offensive line coach at Virginia Tech for seven seasons (2006-12). During that time, the Hokies won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in four years (2007, 2008, 2010).
Before coaching in college, Newsome was an accomplished high school coach for 16 years. He collected five district coach-of-the-year honors, was the Eastern Region Coach of the Year on three occasions and was selected as the AP and VHSL Virginia State Coach of the Year in 1998.
"Curt has been a formidable coach to generations of football players who have graduated and moved on to successful careers and growing families," said Emory & Henry President John W. Wells. "His influence throughout the region to those he worked with including coaches, referees, athletic and training staff I'm sure is immeasurable. We wish him all the best toward gaining positive health outcomes."
Quintin Hunter assumes the role of interim head coach for the 2024 season. This will be the third year of his second stint on staff and eighth overall at Emory & Henry. Hunter's first season in Southwest Virginia was in 2014 after playing for Newsome as a senior at James Madison in 2013. In addition to his interim head coach duties, Hunter will continue to serve as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
"Having coached Quintin at JMU and having him on staff here at E&H, he has my full endorsement and support to lead our football team forward," added Newsome. "He will serve our program well."
"We're grateful for all Curt has brought to the Emory & Henry Football during his tenure and transitioning the program from Division III to Division II and the SAC," said Kyle Sensabaugh, Director of Athletics. "He's illustrated the Blue Collar, Gold Standard motto throughout his teams' successes. We are excited for Quintin to take the helm this fall with the incoming team. We all wish Curt successful health outcomes as he moves through this challenging time."
Emory & Henry was recently accepted into full membership as a NCAA Division II institution and is now eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Wasps will kick off the 2024 season on Saturday, August 31, hosting Glenville State University at 1:00 p.m.
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