Newell, Peter F.
Basketball
b. Aug. 31, 1915, Vancouver, BC
Newell's family moved to California when he was very young and he appeared in several of the "Our Gang" ("Little Rascals") comedies. He was even considered for the title role in the 1921 Charlie Chaplin film, "The Kid," but Jackie Coogan got the part.
Newell went on to play basketball at Loyola University of Los Angeles, graduating in 1939. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he began his college coaching career at the University of San Francisco, emphasizing team defense and a controlled offense.
His USF teams won 25 of 30 games and the 1949 National Invitation Tournament. Newell had a 70-37 record in four seasons, then went to the Michigan State 1950. After indifferent success there, a 45-42 record in four seasons, he moved on to the University of California in 1952.
Newell took California to the NCAA championship game in 1959 and 1960, winning the title the first year and losing to Ohio State in the second. He coached the U. S. Olympic team to a gold medal in 1960, becoming the first coach ever to win an NIT, an NCAA tournament, and Olympic gold. In six seasons at California, he won 118 games and lost 44.
His overall college record was 233 wins and 123 losses. Newell later served as general manager of the San Diego Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA.
Widely known and respected as a teacher, Newell has conducted basketball seminars and clinics in Latin America and Europe and for a number of years worked with the Japanese Basketball Association to help establish a national player development program. With John Benington, he co-authored a textbook, Basketball Methods. He operates the "Big Men's" and "Tall Women's" basketball camps.