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Curt Newsome is entering his seventh season on the Hokies’ staff, coaching the center and offensive guard positions after handling the entire offensive line the previous five seasons. Prior to his arrival in Blacksburg, he was an assistant coach at James Madison University for seven seasons.

A familiar face in the Virginia high school ranks, he is also one of the top recruiters in the region and helped sign prep star Tyrod Taylor in 2006.

Last year’s line featured four seniors who helped pave the way for a 1,700-yard rusher who was named the ACC’s Player of the Year, and the group finished 22nd in the country in fewest sacks allowed per game. That group included Blake DeChristopher at tackle who earned the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy and Jaymes Brooks, an All-ACC guard. Both went on to sign with NFL squads.

In 2010, his line included three All-ACC selections while the 2009 line featured four All-conference selections. In 2009, Ed Wang was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and Sergio Render signed a free agent deal with Tampa Bay. These lines came on the heels of a 2008 line that helped pave the way for 1,200-yard rusher Darren Evans as the Hokies gelled late en route to ACC and Orange Bowl titles.

In 2007, Newsome had to deal with player injuries throughout the season, but had a line playing its best ball at the end of the year, led by eventual first-round draft pick Duane Brown. In 2006, his young line came along as the season progressed. Senior Brandon Frye was taken in the NFL Draft by Houston and started several games for Seattle last season.

Newsome served as the offensive line coach and assistant head coach his last three seasons at James Madison, helping guide the Dukes to the Division I-AA national championship in 2004. He joined the JMU staff in March 1999 and worked as the defensive line coach his first three seasons. In 2002, he coached Madison’s offensive tackles and tight ends. 

During his stint at JMU, Newsome coached All-Americans on both sides of the ball - defensive end Chris Morant, who was a two-time first-team All-American, and offensive guard Matt Magerko, who received first-team AP All-America honors in 2004 when the Dukes won the I-AA national title.

Prior to joining the JMU staff, Newsome was head coach in 1998 at Newport News’ Heritage High School, where he was the AP’s Virginia Scholastic Coach of the Year. He coached from 1987 to 1997 at Kecoughtan High School and also coached at both Phoebus and Ervington high schools.

Newsome received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Emory & Henry in 1982. He and his wife, Melinda, have a son, Curtis, 24, and a daughter, Elizabeth, 17.