Auburn University at Montgomery Athletics

At the direction of Newell, the Warhawks had their best season as an NCAA DII member to date in 2021. AUM finished with a 40-7 record, a Gulf South Conference regular-season championship, a Gulf South Conference postseason title, an appearance in the NCAA tournament, three all-Americans, and was ranked as high as third in the country. In the process, Newell captured his 500^th-career victory as a head coach. AUM also landed five players on all-conference teams at the end of the season, including four first-team players. The Warhawks opened the season, winning their first 14 games, placing them in the top-25 for the first time in program history. AUM also tallied two wins against No. 1-ranked North Georgia on the road in a marquee doubleheader sweep. By sweeping West Alabama in the last series of the year, the Warhawks clinched a share of the regular-season title along with the number one seed in the postseason tournament. AUM had a perfect 4-0 run through the playoffs to win its first-ever championship. The Warhawks, then headed to Valdosta, Ga., to appear in their first NCAA tournament. AUM notched their first NCAA tournament victory with a 3-2 win over Alabama Huntsville in the elimination bracket.

In a shortened season in 2020, Newell led the Warhawks to a 17-5 record including a seven-game winning streak to finish the season. AUM registered it’s first-official Gulf South Conference victory with a 10-0 win over Christian Brothers on February 15. Newell was able to eclipse 200 career wins at AUM with a victory over Albany State on Feb. 12 and ended the season with 213 wins at the helm of the Warhawks softball program. Despite the shortened season, the Warhawks were not lacking in in-season awards. Freshman Alanna Goble captured three Freshman of The Week awards for her performances in the circle. For the second-straight offseason, DP Walker garnered a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Award for her performances on the field and in the circle. The Warhawks also finished the season leading the conference in runs (169) and RBI (146) while leading the league in shutouts (9), hits allowed (80), runs allowed (47) and fewest walks surrendered (37).
 
AUM added 14 wins to their 2019 total from 2018, finishing 43-12 overall, and 20-9 in GSC play. The Warhawks won their first 11 games in a row, including a 9-0 victory over number-three ranked North Georgia in their season-opener on Feb. 1. The Orange and Black also posted series victories at #16 Valdosta State and #21 ranked Mississippi College to help solidify their presence at the top of the GSC. Freshman Olivia Aycock set the program record for stolen bases in a single season (47), while Aycock (.399), Michaelyn Foster (.360), Jaycie Walker (.346), Parker Pinholster (.320) and Morgan Duschell (.309) led a Warhawk offense that batted .304 as a team. The pitching staff posted a 1.91 team earned run average, led by Cydney Sizemore (0.49), Foster (1.46), Savanna Holmes (1.77), Natalie Johnsey (1.89) and Chanel Newcomer's (2.33) ERA's under three. 

In 2018, the Warhawks compiled a record of 29-17 overall, and 19-14 against GSC opponents. The Orange and Black swept series over Christian Brothers and Shorter, while taking series victories against Delta State, West Alabama, Lee and West Georgia. Sophomore Jaycie Walker earned NFCA First Team All-South honors, while setting the program record for doubles in a season with 18. 

During AUM’s first season transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II, Newell guided the Warhawks to a 25-18 record in 2017. AUM won its first NCAA II game against #13 Valdosta State on Feb. 4, earning an 11-2 victory in six innings over the Blazers. The Warhawks also picked up a 4-2 victory over #17 Alabama Huntsville on April 20. For the year AUM went 12-4 against future Gulf South Conference opponents.
   
In 2016, Newell led AUM to a school-record 53 wins and the first Southern States Athletic Conference Softball Tournament championship in the program's history. The Warhawks also captured their first Gulf Shores Invitational championship in 2016. AUM finished the campaign with a 53-8 overall record and was ranked third in the NAIA Postseason Poll. AUM continued its dominance of the NAIA Opening Round, sweeping through the AUM Bracket and impoving to 11-0 all-time in Opening Round contests. The Warhawks, the only NAIA team with four Opening Round championships, advanced to their fifth consecutive NAIA World Series by winning the bracket.
   
Individually, senior hurler Taylor Powell earned First-Team All-American honors from both the NAIA and National Fastpitch Coaches Association, while also earning SSAC Pitcher of the Year accolades. Powell and first baseman Sydney Dishman were also named to the NAIA World Series All-Tournament team. In addition, three Warhawks earned first-team all-conference accolades, while two more were selected to the second team. Catcher Sarah Angulo was voted the league's Gold Glove winner at the position and four student-athletes was named to the SSAC All-Academic team. Claire Wilson was also selected an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
   
Newell immediately made his presence felt with the Warhawks, helping the team to the 2015 NAIA National Championship, the program's second in as many years. Under his leadership, AUM finished 46-9 on the year, including a 24-2 mark in the SSAC. The team rolled through the AUM Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round without allowing a run en route to its third consecutive Opening Round Championship and fourth straight NAIA World Series appearance. Along with capturing his first national title, Newell picked up his 300th career coaching victory in the 10-0 win over Lindsey Wilson in the national championship game. For his efforts, he was named the SSAC and NAIA Coach of the Year, while he and assistant coach Scottie Wilkes were named the NAIA Coaching Staff of the Year by the NFCA.
   
Several players flourished under Newell's leadership, headlined by pitcher Cassie Jones, who was tabbed the NAIA National Player of the Year in Cassie Jones. Jones was also named an NAIA All-American, the SSAC Pitcher of the Year and was an NAIA Scholar Athlete. Newell also coached seven all-conference performers, five SSAC All-Academic members and two NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
   
Prior to joining the Warhawks, Newell posted a 254-121 record in his eight-year stint with the Lady Eagles, setting the school record for wins and winning percentage. He led the squad to a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances, including a fourth-place finish in 2013. His teams have spent 26 weeks ranked in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, climbing as high as No. 4 in the rankings. The Lady Eagles were ranked inside the top 10 for 10 editions. Prior to his arrival at WBC, the softball program experienced nine consecutive losing seasons.
    
Newell guided the program to four consecutive American Midwest Conference championships from 2010-13 and been selected the conference coach of the year four times. He has coached five NAIA All-Americans, eight NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 37 all-conference selections and 102 academic all-conference performers. He finished .500 or better in seven seasons, winning 30 or more games five times.
    
In 2013, the Lady Eagles finished 46-9 and advanced to Bracket Play at the NAIA National Tournament. During the season, Williams Baptist won 19 consecutive games and finished 16-2 in the AMC. After dropping an extra-inning contest to Rogers State in Pool Play, the Lady Eagles rallied and defeated the Hillcats in an elimination, and if-necessary, game to qualify for the bracket round of the tournament. Once in the final round, the Lady Eagles defeated former Southern States Athletic Conference power Lee University and perennial power Reinhardt.
    
The season prior, Williams Baptist finished with a school-record 51 victories, at one point winning 16 straight games. In addition to finishing the AMC regular-season with a 15-1 record, the Lady Eagles also won the conference tournament.
    
Prior to his arrival at WBC, Newell spent five years coaching at Fredericktown High School in Fredericktown, Mo., where he started the softball program.
    
Newell earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Williams Baptist, while earning his master’s from William Woods University. He and his wife, April, have six daughters: Gabriella, Juliana, Adalynn, Jillian, Jacqueline, and Josiephine.