Josh Newman enters his third season as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Newman has guided the Lions to a 47-16 win-loss record during his tenure at UA Fort Smith, which began in late July of 2006.

After guiding UA Fort Smith to a third-place finish in the Bi-State East Division and a berth in the NJCAA Region II tournament during his first season, Newman guided the Lions to a 28-4 win-loss record, the East Division championship and the semifinals of the region tournament last season.

The Lions peaked at No. 4 in the NJCAA Division I Top 25 and were ranked No. 12 in the final regular-season poll.

UA Fort Smith begins the season as one of the favorites to win the Bi-State Conference East Division and the NJCAA Region II tournament. The Lions are ranked No. 4 in Sporting News Magazine’s preseason Top 25, and it is the second time during Newman’s three seasons as Lions coach that UA Fort Smith has been ranked in the Top 5 in a preseason or regular-season national poll.

As successful as Newman’s Lions players have been on the court, they have been just as successful in the classroom with all but one student-athlete graduating during the past two seasons.

The Chino Valley, Ariz., native has an extensive coaching background at the junior college and NCAA Division I levels.

He has coached and recruited 43 former junior college players who have gone on to play at Division I programs over a seven-year span. He has coached and helped develop nine players who have been drafted or played in the NBA, including first-round draft picks Kirk Snyder and Javale McGee, and has coached 20 players who have pursued careers overseas.

Prior to being named the head coach at UA Fort Smith, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada, where his duties included coaching post players, assisting in scouting and recruiting, and serving as the academic liaison.

The Wolfpack compiled a 77-22 win-loss record in those three seasons, winning three WAC regular-season championships and two WAC tournament championships and appearing in three consecutive NCAA tournaments with one trip to the Sweet 16.

Newman began his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (then Westark College) during the 1998-1999 season, serving under current Nebraska coach Doc Sadler.

“I have been very fortunate to have some great assistant coaches, and Josh is at the top of that list,” Sadler said. “He is the right person to keep the program at a elite level.”

He then moved on to McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, for two seasons(1999-2001), serving under current UALR coach Steve Shields. Newman was an assistant coach at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, for two seasons (2001-2003. While at South Plains, Newman helped guide the Texans to a 61-9 win-loss record, consecutive Western Junior College Athletic Conference championships, consecutive Region V championships and consecutive national tournament appearances. The Texans were also ranked in the NJCAA Division I Top 5 both seasons.

Newman has a bachelor's degree in history from Arizona State University and a master's degree in sports studies from Texas A&M-Commerce.

Newman and his wife, Rita, have three children — Troy, Alexis and Daniella.