April 19, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former Samford defensive lineman Ross Newton has been hired as the Bulldogs' defensive line coach, head coach Bill Gray announced Wednesday.

"We are very excited to welcome Ross to our staff," Gray said. "We didn't have anyone when he was here that played the game any harder. He loves the game of football and will be an excellent coach. He is already a good coach at a young age. He will add a lot of energy and excitement to our staff."

Newton was a member of the Samford football team from 2000-2003. While at Samford, he posted 143 tackles and eight sacks. Newton was selected as a team captain for his senior season in 2003.

"It helps that he was a product of (former) Coach (Rory) Segrest, so we will continue to do exactly what we have done up front," Gray said. "It is also a positive that we will now have two Samford graduates on our staff. It is very important when we go out and recruit for student-athletes to know that those two guys are examples of the type of players we have had come out of our program."

Newton, the son of Homewood High School football coach Bob Newton, has spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant for defense at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity to come back to Samford," Newton said. "I played here and had a great career here, and it is a great opportunity to come back here as a coach. Defensive line is a special position, and I look forward to coaching these guys."

Newton earned his B.A. in history with a minor in political science from Samford in 2004. He is scheduled to receive his master's degree in education from UAB this summer.