Former NBA Coach Tom Newell Visits Pohnpei

Palikir, Pohnpei (January 20, 2014) – Former NBA coach and scout Tom Newell visited the college’s National Campus on Friday, January 17, 2014. Coach Newell met with students, faculty, and staff where he conducted a Forum Lecture on “Sports and Recreation: A Portal to the Free World Today”.

Coach Newell talked about the importance of education and how it impacts one’s future. At the end of the lecture, Coach Newell showed his 2011 Championship Ring from the Dallas Mavericks. Participants of the lecture were given a chance to wear the ring and take pictures with Coach Newell.

After the lecture, Coach Newell proceeded to the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center Main Court to conduct a basketball clinic to National Campus students, and high school students. Coach Newell conducted NBA type of basketball drills while giving pointers to local coaches. He taught the players and the coaches on how to execute each of the drills accurately and with safety precautions. 

During his stay in Pohnpei, Coach Newell conducted basketball clinics at the Pohnpei Campus Gymnasium where he worked with the Pohnpei Basketball National team and high school players.

Coach Newell began his career working as a scout for the Golden State Warriors in the 1980s. After serving as the Indiana Pacers' Director of Player Personnel in 1984, he moved on to be an assistant coach for the Seattle Super Sonics (now in Oklahoma City).

During the 1990s, he served as assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets, and as a college scout for the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1995, he became the head coach of the Greek professional team Iraklis Thessaloniki B.C. and began his work in international programs.

With extensive experience, he later joined the coaching staff of the short-lived WNBA team Portland Fire. Coach Newell also has been the Men's National Team Coach of Japan (2000), as well as Coach of the Jilin NE Tigers China Basketball Association team.

He currently represents the State Department as a Sports Ambassador, teaching coaches and players about the game of basketball. He also represents FIBA as one of the Expert Instructors in their Olympic Development Program for Third World countries.