His coaching break came as an assistant to Billy Tubbs at Oklahoma, who hired him away from San Jacinto College.
After four years at OU, Newell became head coach at Arkansas–Little Rock, a program that had experienced little success.
The Trojans notably upset heavily-favored Notre Dame in the 1986 NCAA tournament.
[2] Newell took several years off from coaching, returning to lead West Alabama in 2011.
[3] In only his second season, Newell led the team to a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title.