The Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in college football, will now recognize the nation’s top assistant coaches in high school football, the Broyles Foundation has announced. This adds to the award’s 24-year tradition of honoring the top assistant coaches in college football. 

Hartselle defensive coordinator Bert Newton is one of three coaches to be selected to receive the first High School Broyles Award based on the 2018 season. 

He was also named as the top assistant coach in Class 6A by the Alabama Football Coaches Association last season.

The other two coaches selected are Doc Crowley, offensive coordinator at Booneville High School in Arkansas, and Casey Pearce, defensive coordinator at Longview High School in Texas.

Beginning this season, the Broyles Award – with presenting sponsor Riceland Foods – will recognize one high school assistant coach from every state.

Each winner will attend and be recognized at the collegiate Broyles Award ceremony in Little Rock Dec. 10.

Newton is beginning his third season as defensive coordinator for the Tigers. He came to Hartselle from Mountain Brook.

He teaches Olympic weight training and speed development classes, primarily for varsity football and female athletes grades seven through 12.

He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Montevallo and graduate degrees from Samford University.

He is married to JoAnna Newton, and they have three children, Reese, Owen and Hank.

The Broyles Award was established in 1996 by Frank Broyles and David Bazzel. 

“My grandfather would be so pleased to know his name and remarkable coaching legacy is being extended to the high school level,” said Molly Arnold, Broyles Foundation executive director. 

“His most coveted assistant at Arkansas, Wilson Matthews, was an outstanding high school coach,” Arnold added. “Coach Mathews was his first hire at Arkansas and was chosen 24 years ago by Coach Broyles to be featured alongside him on the prestigious Broyles Award statue that is presented each year to the winner.”

The Broyles Award quickly became synonymous with excellence in collegiate coaching, as many finalists and recipients of the Broyles Award have gone on to become head coaches at collegiate and professional levels.