Justin Newell has served as Knox College vice president and director of athletics since February 2025. In addition to overseeing the Prairie Fire athletic programs, including recent facility upgrades to the T. Fleming Fieldhouse and Jorge Prats Field, he serves as a member of the College’s senior leadership team.

Welcome to his office.

Mickey Mouse Ears
I graduated from the Disney Institute, which was super customer-service-oriented. There was an NCAA working group called “Game Day the D-III Way,” where we created the program to grow that area.

NCAA Tournament Basketballs
One of these balls is from 2006. When I was in Jacksonville, Florida, I kind of ran the game operations of the first and second rounds. That was the year Florida won it. In 2010, we hosted the first and second rounds in New Orleans; in 2011, we had the regional championship, and I was the tournament director for that. Then I was the tournament director for the 2012 Final Four, so that is on the wall. 

Soccer Balls
I was chair of the NCAA Division III men’s soccer committee for three years—2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2021, I got a ball, and, in 2022, I got a ball for the championships. Starting this year, I’m also on the women’s national committee.

Service Recognition
The plaque on the left is for my service as the chair of the NCAA Division III men’s soccer tournament national committee. The other one is for a group called CEFMA, which is the Collegiate Event Facility Managers Association. I started my career in facilities and events, and I was president of CEFMA. 

ASAP Road Cone
I had a coach come into my office when I first got started at my last school, Kenyon College, and say, “I’m going to need that ASAP.” My AD at the time thought it was funny, so “ASAP” was the mantra.

Knox-Schund
This is actually for my birthday. My daughter painted it for me. She calls it the “Knoxschund.”