INSTITUTION:  The University of Akron

NAME:Newt Engle

BIOGRAPGHY- 

Marling “Newt” Engle, who is among the most respected rifle coaches in the nation, completed his 31st season as head coach of the University Of Akron rifle team while guiding the Zips to their fourth consecutive Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference (WIRC) smallbore title.  

Moreover, the longest-tenured coach in UA history pushed the Zips to their fourth-straight second-place finish at the highly-competitive Mid-Atlantic Conference championships while also finishing runners-up in the air rifle at the WIRC.

In the end, Engle saw his squad claim ten slots on the All-WIRC team, two on the All-MAC team, seven on the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association All-Academic team and a final national-ranking of 14th.

But success is nothing new to Engle’s UA teams. In fact, it has become a part of its tradition.

Over the past 30 years, no name has become more synonymous with Akron rifle than Engle’s.  During that time, he has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of exceptional student-athletes. Those athletes have helped the team gain national recognition, including national rankings as high as No.10, as well as several league championships as prior members of the Lake Erie Intercollegiate Rifle League, the Western Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Rifle League, and the Summit County Rifle Conference.

Currently, Akron maintains membership in the WIRC and the MAC, where the team continues to earn championship status.

On March 11, 2006, Engle was given the National Rifle Association’s Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting Sports award at the national collegiate banquet held in Colorado Spring, Colo.,  after leading the Zips to its second-straight Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference (WIRC) championship, a top finish in the NCAA sectionals and a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships in 2005-06.

The award is given to a collegiate coach or instructor who has worked toward the growth and development of a collegiate shooting sports program, whether it be for physical education classes, recreation/leisure, club or varsity, or a combination.

In 2008 Engle was appointed as a member of the prestigious NCAA Rifle Committee charged with the responsibility of overseeing NCAA rifle competition for the entire USA!

Guided by Engle, the team enjoyed exceptional success in 2005-06 as Akron rifle was ranked as high as 11th en route to its second consecutive WIRC championship and a second-place finish at the MAC championship.  The national attention is nothing new to the heralded program, which has consistently been ranked as one of the top 20 teams in the nation.  Continuing the success, the 2008 team earned the number 14 slot in the nation, #1 in the WIRC, and #2 in the MAC.

With the introduction of partial scholarships, the team entered the national arena, attracting athletes from across the nation, while continuing to bring in local talent.

After a short stint at Kent State University, Newt Engle joined the UA varsity rifle team in the fall of 1974.  He won the league championship in 1975 as a sophomore and again in 1976 as a junior. He also finished in second place in his final season in 1977. Engle was appointed team captain in 1976 and 1977.

During Engle’s last year on the team, head coach Nancy Worsencroft suffered a serious injury and was unable to continue coaching the Zips. As team captain, Engle was asked to help the team compete during the 1977 season. The following season, Engle was offered and accepted the position as the new head rifle coach.

Toward the beginning of his coaching career, the late 70’s, it was a busy time for Engle. He not only became head coach in 1978, but also joined the UA Police Department in 1979. Over the last 29 years he has worked his way up to his current position as Assistant Chief of Police. Also in 1979, Newt married his wife, Sandy Engle.

Engle’s daughters, Angie and April, both earned degrees from UA and competed for the Zips under their father’s watch.

The early 1980’s saw Engle finish his associates degree in criminal justice and his bachelors degree in political science.  Engle was born and raised on a farm in Perry Township near Canton, Ohio, and graduated from Perry High School in 1973.