MOBILE, Ala. ? Paul Newman has announced his resignation from the position of assistant athletic director for sports medicine at the University of South Alabama. Newman leaves South Alabama after 15 years with the Jaguar Athletic Department to join the staff of Athletes in Action, the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. He will serve as director of AIA Sports Performance, a division comprised of sports medicine, and strength and conditioning professionals.
”We appreciate the contributions Paul has hade to our program,” Director of Athletics Joe Gottfried said. “He has definitely made a difference. Paul has a national reputation in the sports medicine field and our program has been the beneficiary for the past 15 years. The sports medicine department has grown under Paul’s leadership and as the administrator I had complete confidence in Paul and his ability to handle his many responsibilities. The athletics department is better because of Paul Newman. Our community wishes Paul and Donna the best of luck in their new career path with AIA.”
Newman and his wife, Donna, will relocate to Ohio, where AIA is headquartered. Donna also will be serving on staff with the ministry alongside Paul.
“It is with mixed emotions and great admiration that I submit my resignation as assistant athletic director for sports medicine at the University of South Alabama in order to join the staff of Athletes in Action,” Newman said. “I am extremely grateful to the university for giving me the opportunity to serve as the head athletic trainer. . . . I know I will utilize the skills acquired here in my next position. Donna and I look forward to hearing of great success by Jaguar student-athletes in the future.”
Since 1966, AIA has been a global pioneer, innovator and servant leader in sports ministry. The organization seeks to help the world’s athletes, coaches, fans and all of those impacted by sport grow athletically, mentally and spiritually. AIA provides chaplains to some of the world’s most influential sports teams and sends teams of athletes and coaches around the world to serve other athletes and communities.
As of 2007, AIA has a ministry presence in 75 countries, on nearly 125 US college campuses and on 35 US professional sports teams. According to Newman, countless volunteers, thousands of athletes and more than 500 staff members stand together to share their faith-based, interdenominational message of life’s greatest victory being found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Individually, sports medicine and strength & conditioning professionals have the opportunity to meet spiritual needs because they meet the physical needs of people every day. AIA Sports Performance aims to teach sports professionals how to share their faith with those whom they influence.
“Like many other mission organizations, Campus Crusade for Christ depends on the consistent financial support of concerned individuals and churches,” Newman added. “Those contributions are used to fund the ministries of staff members. Donna and I have raised 45% of our monthly financial support and we are committed to completing this task by September 30th.”
Newman, who was elevated to assistant athletic director for sports medicine last September, graduated from the University of Florida and earned a master’s degree from LSU. He has traveled throughout the world with Athletes in Action summer basketball teams and was a member of the 1994 United States Olympic
Medical Staff in Lilliehammer, Norway, and was a member of the 1996 Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Medical Staff in Atlanta, Ga.
In addition, he is active in both the National Trainers’ Association and the Alabama Athletic Trainers’ Association, serving as chair of the NATA’s College and University Athletic Training Students’ Committee and as the Coordinating Athletic Trainer for the Alabama Sports Festival for eight years.
In June of 2006, at the NATA National Convention in Atlanta, Ga., Newman received two prestigious honors from the NATA. He received the Athletic Trainer Service Award, which is the third highest individual award given to a member by the NATA, as well as the second highest and more prestigious Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.
