Newton leaves Gulf for Mitchell post

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Gulf needs a girls basketball coach.

Ed Newton recently resigned that position after two seasons.

Gulf athletic director Paul Girardi said Newton officially resigned Wednesday. Newton had already moved on to Mitchell, where he started teaching on Jan.20, so Girardi wasn't surprised when the resignation became official.

"I kind of anticipated it a little bit, you can say," Girardi said. "Simply because it's difficult for him to be in one place and coaching in another. It usually doesn't come off very well."

Girardi said the job has not been posted.

Deanne Newton, the former coach's wife, resigned as Gulf's softball coach after last season and also teaches at Mitchell. Newton could not be reached for comment.

Gulf basketball has struggled for years. When Tom Jessee left as coach after the 1999-2000 season his record was 36-42, and in his last season the team went 7-16. Cynthia Steel took over the program and went 6-19 in 2000-01. She left after one season.

Then several key players transferred to Mitchell, and when Newton took over the program in 2001-02 it needed rebuilding.

The Bucs went 0-23 his first season, but 2-19 this season. The second win was the biggest of Newton's short tenure, as Gulf convincingly beat Wesley Chapel 59-47. The Bucs overcame a 26-20 halftime deficit, using a 27-8 third-quarter run to seal the victory.

The Buccaneers have not had a winning season since going 16-12 in 1997-98, Jessee's third season.

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