Rifle Coach Newt Engle Receives NRA Coaching Award

[Balki Bartokomous]

Rifle Coach Newt Engle Receives NRA Coaching AwardEngle given the NRA's Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting Sports awardApril 5, 2006AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron's head rifle coach Newt Engle was recently given the National Rifle Association's Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting Sports award at the national collegiate banquet held in Colorado Spring, Colo. on March 11. Engle, who is in his 28th year of coaching at Akron, led the Zips rifle team to its second-straight Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference championship, a top finish in the NCAA regionals and a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Conference championshipsin 2005-06.Engle has served at UA longer than any other coach, past or present. However, with all of his success within the sport of rifle, Engle has not garnered many prestigious national awards, until now.The Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting Sports award is given to a collegiate coach or instructor who has worked towards 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."Being presented with the 2006 Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting Sports award leaves me speechless and humbled," Engle said. "Over the years I have been lucky enough to receive many accolades from my colleagues, but this award is definitely one of the highlights of my coaching career."Engle joined the University of Akron varsity rifle team in the fall of 1974, were he was league championship in 1975 and 1976. He also finished in second place in his final season in 1977, serving as team captain for the second-straight year.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 complete the `77 season. The following season, Engle was offered and accepted the position as the new head rifle coach. Over the past 27 years, Engle has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of exceptional student-athletes. Those athletes have helped the team gain national recognition, including national ranking's as high as No. 10, as well as several league championships as prior members of the Lake Erie Intercollegiate Rifle Conference, the Western Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Rifle League, and the Summit County Rifle Conference.Over the past nine years, the Zips have been ranked in the top 20 nine different times, including last season when the Zips were ranked among the top 15 in the nation. Not only successful at the ranges, Engle's team have been model student-athletes. The team holds a cumulative GPA of 2.895, with eight student-athletes holding a GPA of 3.0 or better and three with a 3.5 or better."I am extremely happy for Newt," Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said. "He is very deserving of such an honor and we, The University of Akron truly appreciate his efforts in representing the University and the sport of rifle in a first-class fashion."Engle also has served the last 26 years with The University of Akron Police Department, working his way up to his current position as Assistant Chief of Police.The NRA Collegiate and Schools Department manages all Collegiate & School Shooting Programs to include; NRA Collegiate Rifle & Pistol Sectionals, NCAA Rifle Championships, NRA Collegiate Pistol Championships, ACU-I Shotgun Championships, and Junior and Senior ROTC.

[Zipsrifle]

It's about time! Newt has poured his heart and soul into this program and it's great to finally see him get some national recognition for it. He has NOT had an easy go at building up this team. For years he had to compete against Ohio State, Kentucky, West Virginia and Xavier, all offering scholarships when he had none. He managed to build a program that has been on the cusp of making the National Championship match several times in recent years. He has fought to get upgrades to the leaking dungeon in Schrank South so that it is now one of the best ranges in the state! Thanks Newt, you deserve it!