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Grace Hires New AD

May 9, 2005

Roger Newton has been named as the new athletic director for Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, replacing Jeff Kowatch, who resigned in June of 2004.

Newton, who will likely begin full-time at Grace in early August, has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in sport management from Baylor University.

He worked in the Baylor athletic department helping to raise funds for student athlete scholarships, and at Kentucky he worked as the central procurement manager and director of athletic contracting.

Over the past 14 years Newton served as athletic director at the high school level, earned distinction in 2000 as a Certified Athletic Administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and received the Outstanding Male Coach of the Year award from the Kentucky Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 1998.

“I am encouraged to have the opportunity to work with such a dedicated coaching staff, with people as respected as Jim Kessler,” Newton said. “I am also looking forward to the opportunity to work with Dr. Manahan, Jim Swanson, and the faculty, students, and staff at Grace.”

Newton and his wife, Pam, have been married 13 years. They have an eight-year-old son, Tyler, and are expecting a second child in July.