May 31st, 2026 1:00pm
EMORY, Va. — The Emory & Henry University community is deeply saddened by the passing of former Head Football Coach and 2024 Sports Hall of Fame inductee Curt Newsome, a respected leader, mentor, and member of the Wasps family whose impact on the institution and its student-athletes will be felt for generations.
Newsome served Emory & Henry with distinction, guiding the football program through a significant period in its history while exemplifying the values of commitment, integrity, and service that define the University. His passion for the game was matched only by his dedication to the young men he coached, many of whom credit him with helping shape their lives both on and off the field.
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.
As the Emory & Henry community reflects on Coach Newsome's life and legacy, it does so with gratitude for his years of service and the countless lives he touched. The thoughts and prayers of the Emory & Henry family are with Coach Newsome's loved ones, former players, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.