Christian Newton Hometown: Lyons, Ga. Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 2 years at Tech Alma Mater: Georgia Southern (2002)

Formerly an assistant coach at Alabama and Georgia Southern, Christian Newton joined the Georgia Tech staff as assistant golf coach on August 1, 2007, and is now in his third year with the Yellow Jackets.

Newton, 30, is involved not only in coaching and the strength and conditioning programs for Tech's players, but also assists Heppler in recruiting and coordinates the Yellow Jackets' golf booster club and fund-raising efforts.

"He helped build Alabama's program into one of the nation's best," said Heppler. "He is involved in recruiting and all the other aspects of our program. I feel fortunate to have somebody with as much experience as he has."

Newton, who worked at Alabama for two years (2005-07), helped coach the Crimson Tide to a sixth-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championship and was involved in all facets of the Crimson Tide program. He helped revamp the golf booster program and golf camp while assisting in the development of all-Southeastern Conference players Michael Thompson, Gator Todd and Matthew Swan.

A native of Lyons, Ga., Newton was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Georgia Southern, from 2003-2005, helping the Eagles to a tie for 13th at the 2005 NCAA Championship. He also assisted in coaching two All-Americans, Aron Price and David Palm, the Eagles' first All-Americans since the 1989-90 season.

Newton has worked as a golf shop assistant at Southern Links Golf Club in Statesboro and as assistant ticket manager for the AT&T Classic/Atlanta Classic Foundation, and competed on the Developmental Professional Golf Tour in 2002.

Newton earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from Georgia Southern in 2002, and completed his master's in sports management there in 2004. He played golf four years (1997-2001) for the Eagles, earned all-Southern Conference honors in 2001 and also played in the NCAA Championship that spring.