Kansas State University Athletics
Staff Directory
Newell, John
John Newell
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach (Throws)
- Phone:
- (785) 323-0339
John Newell was announced as the track and field associate head coach, overseeing the throwers, by Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Travis Geopfert on August 2, 2024.
During the 2025 season, he coached Riley Marx to Second Team All-America honors in the men’s javelin throw at 70.71m (232’ 0”) in 11th place.
Newell brings 19 years of experience to the staff, spending the last two seasons at Arkansas (2022-23) and Vanderbilt (2023-24). In his career, he has coached one national champion, 41 First Team All-Americans and 23 conference champions.
During the 2024 season, Newell coached SEC Field Athlete of the Year Veronica Fraley to the discus crown at the NCAA Outdoor Championship with a Vanderbilt school record throw of 63.66m/208-10. Fraley then claimed the bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (62.54m/205-2) to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Newell also oversaw SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year Giavonna Meeks with the No. 2 weight throw mark in collegiate history at 23.04m/75-7. At the NCAA Indoor Championship Meeks finished 6th, the best finish by a freshman since 2004.
Newell has coached five total Olympians in his career, including Travis Bailey (USA, Discus) and Steven Mozia (Nigeria, Shot Put) at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Stamatia Scarvelis (Greece, Hammer Throw) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Fraley (USA, Discus) and Rojé Stona (Jamaica, Discus) at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Stona broke the Olympic record in the men's discus throw with a gold medal performance of 70.00m/229-8.
“For nearly two decades Coach Newell has continued to prove himself as one of the best throws coaches in the NCAA and in the world,” Geopfert said. “He’s had multiple Olympians in different events and has consistently proven himself as an elite coach in all four throws disciplines. His knowledge and experience at a high level for many years in both the SEC and Big Ten will be invaluable to our program. To say that I’m excited to have Coach Newell as an associate head coach is an understatement. Looking forward to his leadership within our program.”
Newell worked alongside Geopfert at Arkansas as a volunteer assistant coach, part of the 2023 NCAA men’s indoor national champions and men’s SEC indoor and outdoor championships. With the Razorbacks he helped Stona record the discus No. 2 all-time mark in NCAA history at 68.64m/225-2 to win the SEC Outdoor Championship before claiming the silver medal at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Newell’s longest stint was at Tennessee (2013-22) as an assistant coach. Newell started his career at Michigan State (2007-13) as an assistant, during which he was named the 2011 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Assistant Women’s Coach of the Year.
Coaching Experience
Coaching Accomplishments
Athlete Honors
Education
During the 2025 season, he coached Riley Marx to Second Team All-America honors in the men’s javelin throw at 70.71m (232’ 0”) in 11th place.
Under his leadership, Gary Moore Jr. won the Big 12 weight throw with a distance of 22.67m (74’ 4 1/2”), the new K-State school record. During the outdoor season Moore Jr. also won the hammer throw title at 67.68m (222’ 0”) for the no. 2 throw in the K-State records.
Newell brings 19 years of experience to the staff, spending the last two seasons at Arkansas (2022-23) and Vanderbilt (2023-24). In his career, he has coached one national champion, 41 First Team All-Americans and 23 conference champions.
During the 2024 season, Newell coached SEC Field Athlete of the Year Veronica Fraley to the discus crown at the NCAA Outdoor Championship with a Vanderbilt school record throw of 63.66m/208-10. Fraley then claimed the bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (62.54m/205-2) to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Newell also oversaw SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year Giavonna Meeks with the No. 2 weight throw mark in collegiate history at 23.04m/75-7. At the NCAA Indoor Championship Meeks finished 6th, the best finish by a freshman since 2004.
Newell has coached five total Olympians in his career, including Travis Bailey (USA, Discus) and Steven Mozia (Nigeria, Shot Put) at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Stamatia Scarvelis (Greece, Hammer Throw) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Fraley (USA, Discus) and Rojé Stona (Jamaica, Discus) at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Stona broke the Olympic record in the men's discus throw with a gold medal performance of 70.00m/229-8.
“For nearly two decades Coach Newell has continued to prove himself as one of the best throws coaches in the NCAA and in the world,” Geopfert said. “He’s had multiple Olympians in different events and has consistently proven himself as an elite coach in all four throws disciplines. His knowledge and experience at a high level for many years in both the SEC and Big Ten will be invaluable to our program. To say that I’m excited to have Coach Newell as an associate head coach is an understatement. Looking forward to his leadership within our program.”
Newell worked alongside Geopfert at Arkansas as a volunteer assistant coach, part of the 2023 NCAA men’s indoor national champions and men’s SEC indoor and outdoor championships. With the Razorbacks he helped Stona record the discus No. 2 all-time mark in NCAA history at 68.64m/225-2 to win the SEC Outdoor Championship before claiming the silver medal at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Newell’s longest stint was at Tennessee (2013-22) as an assistant coach. Newell started his career at Michigan State (2007-13) as an assistant, during which he was named the 2011 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Assistant Women’s Coach of the Year.
Coaching Experience
- Track and Field Assistant Coach, Michigan State (2007-13)
- Track and Field Assistant Coach, Tennessee (2013-22)
- Track and Field Volunteer Assistant Coach, Arkansas (2022-23)
- Track and Field Assistant Coach, Vanderbilt (2023-24)
- Track and Field Associate Head Coach, K-State, (2024-present)
Coaching Accomplishments
- Coached 5 Olympians during three Olympic Games (2016, 2020, 2024)
- 2023 NCAA Men's Indoor National Champions (Arkansas)
- 2023 SEC Men's Indoor & Outdoor Champions (Arkansas)
- 2011 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Assistant Women's Coach of the Year (Michigan State)
Athlete Honors
- 2005 NCAA indoor All-American (shot put)
- Six-time NCAA qualifier
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Sociology, University of Georgia, 2005
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