Joe Newton (coach)

Joe Newton is a high school cross country coach at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. In fifty years of coaching, he has won 26 Illinois state titles. [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/ccb/records/alltime.htm IHSA IHSA Boys Cross Country All-Time Records ] ] His team's nickname is "The Long Green Line". [ [http://www.ccjournal.com/catalog/LongGreenLine.shtml Cross Country Journal ] ] A feature length documentary has been in the works about his life and successes, it is called The Long Green Line [ [http://www.longgreenlinemovie.com The Long Green Line MOVIE - official website ] ]

Among his many accomplishments he was an assistant manager in charge of marathon runners for the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. He was the first high school coach to hold such an honor. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/dave_krider/10/10/newton/index.html SI.com - Writers - Dave Krider: Newton's self-made cross-country dynasty - Wednesday October 11, 2006 5:49PM ] ] He was awarded the "National Cross Country Coach of the Year" four times and has written four books, concentrating on training and motivation. [ [http://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Cross-Country-Successfully/dp/088011701X Amazon.com: Coaching Cross Country Successfully (Coaching Successfully): Books: Joe Newton,Joe Henderson ] ] He is known for motivational talks that focus on the philosophical and psychological factors that are required for success.::"A person can have some talent and some character and have the chance to succeed. But, if he has tons of talent and no character, he will fail." Quote from Newton [http://www.lalumiere.org/studentlife/photogallery07/joenewton/news_0921_joenewton.htm]

::"It's nice to be great, but far greater to be nice."

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