Updated September 4, 2008

Entering his 13th season at the helm of the Southern Illinois University men's golf program, Leroy Newton has brought the men's golf team to new heights. Since becoming the Salukis' ninth head coach all-time, Newton has positioned SIU in the top of the Missouri Valley Conference with five straight top-four finishes in the MVC Championship Tournament (2004-08).

Under Newton's direction, the Salukis recorded one of the best seasons in the programs 61 years of existence in 2008. SIU tied the its best finish (2nd) and set a team program-low (874) in the MVC Championship Tournament at the Davenport Country Club, and also had five second-place finishes, and a program-best four individual postseason award-winners.

Newton's 2006 - 07 squad finished in the top five at eight tournaments, including a fourth-place finish at the MVC Championship.

Newton is the second-longest head coach to lead the Salukis, behind Lynn Holder who coached SIU for 30 years from the program's inception in 1947 to 1976. He has built a successful golf tradition at SIU athletically and academically during his tenure. In 12 seasons Newton has produced nine all-MVC performers, six academic all-conference selections, and the program's first Academic All-American in 2008. In 2004, Newton was named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year after the Salukis improved from a seventh place finish in 2003 to finish fourth the following season.

Newton grew up in Hurs-Bush, Ill. and started playing golf at 29 years of age. He quickly became one the top amateur golfers in the state of Illinois. Over the years, Newton has captured more than 20 Southern Illinois Golfers Association (SIGA) titles and has won numerous senior events in the tri-state area. He won the 1998 title and finished second in 1996 at the SIGA Tournament of Champions. In addition, Newton was inducted into the Southern Illinois Golfers Association Hall of Fame and continues to be one of Illinois' top amateur golfers.

Newton came to SIU on a basketball and baseball scholarship, and graduated in 1967. After graduating from SIU, Newton went on serve as the principal of Cambria Elementary School in the Carterville District and earned a master's degree in administration from the University of Illinois. While at Cambria, he was the men's golf coach at Carterville High School for five years and sent multiple golfers to the state tournament. He went on to become the principal of Carterville High in 1978.

Newton also worked for 30 years as a high school basketball official in the Illinois High School Association and refereed numerous regional and state tournament games.

He served on the IHSA Board of Directors for 10 years and was the president of the board in 1993 and 1994. Following his retirement in 1994, Newton took over the golf team at John A. Logan College.

At Logan, Newton turned the program around in just two seasons, bringing the Volunteers to national prominence with a number two rating in the NJCAA polls, producing four national qualifiers before moving over to SIU for the 1996-97 season.

Under Newton's leadership in the last 12 seasons the Saluki men's golf program has grown in reputation and stature in the MVC and on a national level.