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SLS College Counselor Dedicated to Athletic Recruiting
Tony Newsom, St. Luke’s College Counselor for Athletic Recruiting, came to the Hilltop seven years ago as the Boy's Varsity Basketball coach. One year later, SLS knew they had found a gem and offered Newsom a full-time position as an advisor and college counselor at St. Luke's.
As St. Luke’s College Counselor for Athletic Recruitment, Newsom works in partnership with the College Counseling and the Athletic departments to ensure that St. Luke’s student-athletes interested in playing sports at the college level are guided through the college recruiting process. He builds relationships with student-athletes and their families, partnering with travel/club coaches and maintaining a network of relationships with college coaches and athletic directors.
Director of College Counseling Sonia Bell believes Newsom’s insights are invaluable. “As a former student-athlete and college coach, Tony can speak with St. Luke’s students interested in playing in college about the commitment level needed to be successful at that level,” she said. “He wants to ensure he helps student-athletes make good decisions based on a wide array of information.”
Andrea DiTeodoro ‘22, who plays field hockey at Bowdoin, shared, “Mr. Newsom was a tremendous help as I navigated the college recruiting process. He was always available to talk to and handled the entire process with a kind and positive approach."
Read more about Newsom’s experience and how St. Luke’s is helping student-athletes find the right fit for college in this Q&A with Tony Newsom.
What is your connection to the sports world?
I was a recruited Division 1 student-athlete and played on the Niagara University basketball team for four seasons. Following graduation, I worked for over 20 years as an assistant basketball coach at the collegiate level, including at Princeton University, College of the Holy Cross, Fairfield University, and Quinnipiac University. My experiences being recruited as a student-athlete and then recruiting on behalf of different colleges/universities have given me a unique perspective of both sides of the recruiting process.
I was a recruited Division 1 student-athlete and played on the Niagara University basketball team for four seasons. Following graduation, I worked for over 20 years as an assistant basketball coach at the collegiate level, including at Princeton University, College of the Holy Cross, Fairfield University, and Quinnipiac University. My experiences being recruited as a student-athlete and then recruiting on behalf of different colleges/universities have given me a unique perspective of both sides of the recruiting process.
How do you help student-athletes find the right college fit?
I am here to help our student-athletes reach their full potential and realize their collegiate dreams. First, I advise student-athletes to consider the type of college/university they want to attend. They create a list to help them find what kind of school they wish to attend. This list will include potential locations, enrollment size, majors, and team roster needs, to name a few. Students need to feel comfortable with the program, and it should be a good fit for their athletic and academic skill levels to ensure they are set up for a terrific college experience. They will spend a lot of time practicing and traveling with the team. I always tell the student, “Trust your gut — it’s an important piece of the process.”
I am here to help our student-athletes reach their full potential and realize their collegiate dreams. First, I advise student-athletes to consider the type of college/university they want to attend. They create a list to help them find what kind of school they wish to attend. This list will include potential locations, enrollment size, majors, and team roster needs, to name a few. Students need to feel comfortable with the program, and it should be a good fit for their athletic and academic skill levels to ensure they are set up for a terrific college experience. They will spend a lot of time practicing and traveling with the team. I always tell the student, “Trust your gut — it’s an important piece of the process.”
St. Luke’s has an outstanding college counseling team that gets to know our students, and I lean on them and our coaching staff to figure out the best fit for our students.
What’s your philosophy for athletic college recruiting?
Recruiting has become increasingly more complex. We must consider multiple factors, such as schools that don’t offer scholarships or only have a 5 to 10 percent acceptance rate. Additionally, colleges with athletic scholarships have recently looked to recruit from the transfer portal before recruiting high school student-athletes. We need to adapt our approach for our high school students so they can compete. My philosophy is to act quickly if you find what you’re looking for. Getting recruited is more challenging now, so you risk losing your opportunity if you wait. This is another reason why being prepared and having someone to advise you through the process is essential to achieving the best possible outcome for St. Luke’s student-athletes. I also encourage students to attend the school that wants them the most. If the school is invested in your recruitment, they will be invested in you as a player and student.
Recruiting has become increasingly more complex. We must consider multiple factors, such as schools that don’t offer scholarships or only have a 5 to 10 percent acceptance rate. Additionally, colleges with athletic scholarships have recently looked to recruit from the transfer portal before recruiting high school student-athletes. We need to adapt our approach for our high school students so they can compete. My philosophy is to act quickly if you find what you’re looking for. Getting recruited is more challenging now, so you risk losing your opportunity if you wait. This is another reason why being prepared and having someone to advise you through the process is essential to achieving the best possible outcome for St. Luke’s student-athletes. I also encourage students to attend the school that wants them the most. If the school is invested in your recruitment, they will be invested in you as a player and student.
How do you form relationships with SLS students?
I work mainly with Upper School students, but I get to know some Middle School students through basketball and Upper School siblings. I’m also an Upper School Advisor, which allows me to connect with a group of students regularly. What’s nice is that students introduce me to their friends and siblings, so I am commonly known as ‘Coach’ with most St. Luke’s students.
I work mainly with Upper School students, but I get to know some Middle School students through basketball and Upper School siblings. I’m also an Upper School Advisor, which allows me to connect with a group of students regularly. What’s nice is that students introduce me to their friends and siblings, so I am commonly known as ‘Coach’ with most St. Luke’s students.
How do you network with colleges to place students in the best institution for them?
Throughout my 20-plus-year career as a Division 1 basketball coach, I have built an extensive network that I can tap into for St. Luke’s student-athletes. I’m fortunate to be able to leverage my previous experience and relationships.
Throughout my 20-plus-year career as a Division 1 basketball coach, I have built an extensive network that I can tap into for St. Luke’s student-athletes. I’m fortunate to be able to leverage my previous experience and relationships.
What is your favorite part of your role at St. Luke’s?
Hands down, the relationships with the students. The opportunity to watch their growth as young people. To see them find their voice in our community and watch them express themselves is truly amazing. The best part is seeing our student-athletes rewarded for their hard work in the classroom and on the field/court. Seeing them attend the school they want and deserve to be at is so exciting!
Hands down, the relationships with the students. The opportunity to watch their growth as young people. To see them find their voice in our community and watch them express themselves is truly amazing. The best part is seeing our student-athletes rewarded for their hard work in the classroom and on the field/court. Seeing them attend the school they want and deserve to be at is so exciting!
What makes the recruiting process at St. Luke’s unique?
It’s about the exceptional collaboration of teachers, coaches, and parents going above and beyond for our student-athletes. The teachers and coaches are determined to see our students succeed in college and will do anything to help them achieve their goals. St. Luke’s parents want to see their children succeed and are always willing to partner with the school to help. It’s not like this everywhere, and it’s genuinely such a positive experience for everyone involved. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sonia Bell, St. Luke’s Director of College Counseling. She has taught me so much. She is one of the best at what she does. I feel fortunate that I get to learn from and work with her. Not every school has a person like her who cares and is so invested in the kids.
It’s about the exceptional collaboration of teachers, coaches, and parents going above and beyond for our student-athletes. The teachers and coaches are determined to see our students succeed in college and will do anything to help them achieve their goals. St. Luke’s parents want to see their children succeed and are always willing to partner with the school to help. It’s not like this everywhere, and it’s genuinely such a positive experience for everyone involved. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sonia Bell, St. Luke’s Director of College Counseling. She has taught me so much. She is one of the best at what she does. I feel fortunate that I get to learn from and work with her. Not every school has a person like her who cares and is so invested in the kids.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
