SCC to Field Men’s, Women’s Soccer Teams This Fall, Hires Newton as Coach

01/03/2018

Southeastern Community College will add soccer to its Blackhawk Athletics lineup in August. Head Coach Zachary Newton has been tapped to steer both squads.

Newton, a native of Mandurah, Australia, comes to SCC from Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington where he served as Assistant Soccer Coach. He coached at Roosevelt High School and numerous club soccer teams in the Seattle area. His playing career included stints at Peninsula College, winning back-to-back championships in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) in 2012 and 2013 and Niagara University in New York where he earned a degree in Sports Management and Sports Operations.

SCC Athletic Director Tyler Gaston looks forward to working with Newton. “When we decided to roll out soccer, I reached out to a handful of colleges with successful soccer programs. Zac came highly recommended.”

Newton says one thing that attracted him to SCC was the opportunity to compete in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).

“The ICCAC is one of the most competitive conferences in the country. Three of the men’s programs and one women’s programs are ranked in the NJCAA top 20,” explains Newton.

Newton officially started on January 2 but has already been busy making contacts and identifying prospects.

“I’m learning there’s a good pool of talent in the area that could be a great fit for us, which is encouraging,” says Newton.

As with any new endeavor, Gaston has realistic expectations.

“We won’t be a powerhouse right out of the gate,” says Gaston.  “It takes time to grow a successful program. You have to build a network and make yourself known with coaches and players, you have to set up all the day-to-day operations, create a culture of excellence, and remember, this is actually two programs – men’s and women’s.”

Newton says he’s up to the task. “I really like the idea of starting two brand new programs. It’s certainly easier to step into established programs, but this an opportunity to build quality programs from the ground up.”

Once settled, Newton will build out his coaching staff.

The Blackhawks will split their home games between Bracewell Stadium and the Burlington Area RecPlex.

Players interested in learning more about SCC Blackhawk Soccer should contact Coach Newton at znewton@scciowa.edu or (319) 208-5274.

Download Newton’s photo here: https://www.scciowa.edu/marketing/2018/photos/zac-newton.jpg

For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit: https://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.html