WACO, TX — University of Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome has been named to the AFCA Board of Trustees. He will be an ex officio member of the board and chairman of the AFCA Assistant Coaches Committee. Newsome is starting his third season as a full-time assistant coach with the Wolverines.
“Assistant coaches are some of the most important people in a football program,” AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl said. “With the landscape of college football ever-changing and the need for a fresh perspective for the AFCA Board of Trustees, we are excited to announce the addition of Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome as an ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee.”
Newsome joins a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others. Members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include president Jeff McMartin of Central College, first vice-president Bobby Hauck of the University of Montana, second vice-president Neal Brown of West Virginia University and third vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest College.
Also serving on the Board in 2024 are: Steve Ryan, Morningside University; James Franklin, Penn State University; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest University; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International University; Mike Babcock, McKendree University; Clark Lea, Vanderbilt University; Mike Bloomgren, Rice University; Jay Norvell, Colorado State University; Jason Simpson, University of Tennessee at Martin; Alvin Parker, Virginia Union University; Bret Bielema, University of Illinois; Chris Klieman, Kansas State University; Tony Elliott, University of Virginia; Charles Huff, Marshall University; Tim Albin, Ohio University; Brent Venables, University of Oklahoma; Van Malone, Kansas State University, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.
This will be Newsome’s 10th season at Michigan, with his first two years coming as an offensive tackle for the Wolverines in 2015-16 where he was an Academic All-Big Ten selection. Due to serious injury, Newsome ended his playing days and started his coaching career as a student assistant coach in 2018. He helped current head coach Sherrone Moore produce three All-Big Ten tight ends during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. As a graduate assistant coach helping with the offensive line from 2020 to 2021, Newsome helped the 2021 unit earn the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s most outstanding offensive line. They led the nation in tackles for a loss allowed per game (2.43) and ranked fifth in sacks allowed (1.0).
Newsome became a full-time assistant coach in 2022, returning to coach tight ends. He helped produce three All-Big Ten performers (Luke Schoonmaker, 2022; Colston Loveland and AJ Barner, 2023) while the tight end group helped the offensive line earn a second straight Joe Moore Award in 2022. Newsome’s tight ends recorded more than 60 receptions in 2022 and 2023. Individually, Schoonmaker had a career best 35 receptions in 2022 while in 2023, Loveland had a career best 45.
Newsome earned a bachelor’s degree in 2018 and master’s degree in 2020 from Michigan. He was a member of the AFCA’s 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2023 and a 247Sports’ Top 30 Under 30 in 2021. The McLean, Virginia, native is married to wife Caroline and the couple reside in Ann Arbor.
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