Last Updated:May 08. 2008 9:37PM
Published: May 09. 2008 3:30AM

Mark Newton has spent the past 16 years learning from some outstanding basketball coaches at Lauderdale County High School.

Newton has coached under Richard Herston and Ted Talley with the boys teams at Lauderdale County and even spent some time working Larry Sinyard, while he was leading the Tigers girls to one great season after another.

Newton will now get his chance to show what he has learned. On Thursday night, he was officially hired as the new boys coach at Lauderdale County, taking over for Talley.

"It's an honor to get this job and follow coach Talley," Newton said. "I want to thank Mr. (Superintendent of Education Bill) Valentine, the board of education and Mr. (Lauderdale County principal Jay) Stejskal for their faith in me. It's bittersweet for me because I'm looking forward to being the head coach, but I'm going to miss working with coach Talley.

"Coach Herston got me in coaching and really helped me a lot," he said. "I've also learned so much from coach Sinyard and coach Talley. Those three have shaped my coaching more than anybody, and I have great memories of working with them."

Lauderdale County was 26-5 this past season, but suffered a shocking loss to Colbert County in sub-region play. The Tigers advanced to the Class 3A state title game in 2007.

Newton said the Tigers will continue to play the aggressive playing style for which they are known.

"The style will be the same," he said. "We'll get up and down the floor, press and play good defense. We only have one starter returning, but we have some good talent moving up to the varsity. We've got to use the summer to get stronger and quicker."

While Newton's hiring was approved at Thursday's board of education meeting, no new girls coach was named at Lexington. The board also accepted the resignations of Central football coach Steve Mayfield and Wilson football coach Chris Balentine.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@timesdaily.com.