...... in 1992, after the quick turnaround engineered by new(ish) head coach Rick Pitino, UK President Charles Wethington made sure to lock up Athletic Director C.M. Newton. Acting before his current contract expired, Wethington offered Newton a new four-year deal to stay with the University. Newton knew the program well; he played under Adolph Rupp from 1949-51. The energy for the basketball program was arguably the highest it had ever been, six months removed from the epic showdown with Duke in Philadelphia. Years later, Newton was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the head coach at Transylvania, Vanderbilt, and Alabama. Some of his other accomplishments include:
1. Helped adopt the 3-point line and shot clock while on the NCAA Rules Committee.
2. Anything and everything during his University of Kentucky tenure.
3. President of USA Basketball when 1992's “The Dream Team” was developed.
4. In 2000, the University named the field at Commonwealth Stadium C.M. Newton Field.
I’d probably put that resume up against anyone else in basketball history/innovation.
Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach
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