Quinn Newton, a former Bates College assistant, was announced Friday as the new men’s basketball head coach at University of Maine at Farmington on Friday. James Liebowitz photo

Quinn Newton has been hired as the next head coach of the University of Maine at Farmington men’s basketball program, the university announced Friday.

Newton takes over at Farmington after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bates College.

Former Bates College assistant Quinn Newton was named the head men’s basketball coach at University of Maine at Farmington on Friday. Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College

“I’d first like to thank Athletic Director Jamie Beaudoin and the rest of the hiring committee for entrusting me to lead this program. UMF has such a rich history of excellence that I am excited to continue to build upon,” Newton said in a university media release announcing his hiring.

Newton’s hiring is the second time in a row that the UMaine-Farmington men’s basketball program has chosen a Bates assistant as its new head coach.

Sam Leal, who was hired away from Bates in 2020, left UMF earlier this year to become the head coach at Wartburg College in Iowa. In four seasons under Leal, the Beavers were 53-25 and reached the North Atlantic Conference tournament each year.

Newton is a 2014 graduate of Thornton Academy in Saco, then he continued his playing career at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. He graduated in 2018 and was a 1,000-point scorer for the Monks.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Quinn and his family to Farmington,” UMaine-Farmington AD Jamie Beaudoin said in the news release. “The men’s basketball program at Farmington has a storied history, and it was apparent to me and the rest of the search committee that Quinn possesses all the qualities we are looking for in the next leader of our program.

“Quinn has gained invaluable coaching experience at several high-level Division III programs and has a track record of bringing high-level student-athletes to every school he has been affiliated with. His motivation and passion for basketball are abundantly clear, and his desire to compete and connect with the team is crucial in providing them with a meaningful student-athlete experience.”

While still in college, Newton was an on-court player development and strength and conditioning coach for Integrity Hoops. According to the UMF news release, his work there included helping to train NBA and WNBA players, including Paul George, Diana Taurasi and Anthony Davis.

Newton’s coaching career began following his graduation from St. Joe’s. His first job was as an assistant at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, for one season. The next two season she was an assistant coach and head strength and conditioning coach at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

Prior to his two years at Bates, Newton spent a season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at University of Southern Maine under Rob Sanicola, who was his college coach at St. Joe’s.

“Maine is home for me. I am truly looking forward to fully immersing myself and my family into the Farmington community,” Newton said in the release.