Bob Newton played football at Fayette County High School where he was a star on the field. He earned all-state honors his senior season as a 205 pound tackle.

Newton served as an assistant coach for three years in Sprayberry, Georgia, to begin his career, then came to Homewood to coach the offensive line for the next 19 years before taking over the head coaching duties.

For 33 years Bob Newton worked at Homewood high school. First as an assistant coach, then the head coach and athletic director. He was the head coach from 1995-2005 and compiled an overall record of 124-24, winning five class 5A state championships. He retired from Homewood in 2008.

Newton took on the task of replacing the successful Gerald Gann when he accepted the head coaching duties in 1995. The two had worked together for many years but this was a new challenge.

He was up to the challenge and his first team finished 13-2, winning a State Championship by defeating Blount 17-12. The Patriots would return to Legion Field in 2000 with another 13-2 record and a second title under coach Newton. That team beat Benjamin Russell in a classic 41-34 overtime game.

The 2001 Patriots came up short by losing in a rematch of the previous years title match by a score of 20-13. The next season saw the Patriots return to the top of the mountain with a 31-28 win over Russellville in the Championship game.

In 2004, Homewood finished with a 14-1 record and defeated Russellville 35-21 for their fourth crown under Coach Newton. They would repeat in 2005 with a perfect 15-0 squad and a 45-13 thumping of Buckhorn High School.

Newtons teams never had a losing record and won six region titles. His playoff record was a phenomenal 34-4 in nine playoff appearances. Between 2000-2005, his teams were 82-7 on the football field. Coach Newton stepped down at Homewood following the 2005 football season.

Homewoods Outstanding Athlete Citizen scholarships are awarded to two athletes who excel on and off the field. The four-year scholarships are named in honor of Coach Newton, who school officials said motivated players to make academic success priority one. Homewood would also name the high school football field in his honor in 2009.

He was a graduate of Russellville high school and Samford University. Newton coached three times in the Alabama-Mississippi all-star football game and once in the North-South all-star game.

He was named at the Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writer in 2000 and 2005.