Laurier mourns passing of legendary Golden Hawks football coach Earl Richard ‘Rich’ Newbrough

July 2, 2024

A Celebration of Life for Rich Newbrough will be held Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in The Turret at Laurier's Waterloo campus beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Wilfrid Laurier University is deeply saddened by the passing of legendary football coach Earl Richard “Rich” Newbrough, who led the Golden Hawks to a national championship in 1991 and influenced generations of Laurier student-athletes. Rich passed away on June 29, 2024 at the age of 87.

Born and raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Rich was the youngest of four brothers. He attended Bridgeport High School and later enrolled at Fairmont State College, where he enjoyed a distinguished run as quarterback on the school’s championship football team, playing alongside his lifelong friend Tuffy Knight.

Following college, Rich served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, a position that took him throughout Southeast Asia. After military service, he reunited with Knight as a teacher and football coach at Crooksville High School in Ohio, where they won a state championship.

In 1968, Rich was enticed to Canada and what was then known as Waterloo Lutheran University (which became Wilfrid Laurier University in 1973) at the suggestion of Knight and his Fairmont State College fraternity brother Fred Nichols, who was Waterloo Lutheran’s dean of students at the time. The trio would become legendary for their contributions to Laurier.

In total, Rich spent 30 seasons as part of Laurier’s football coaching staff. Starting as offensive coordinator, he later rose to become the university’s assistant director of athletics and in 1984 was named director of athletics and head football coach, a position he held for 10 years. Among his many achievements and contributions, Rich led Laurier’s football team to a Vanier Cup national title in 1991, was recognized as national coach of the year the same year, and captured two Yates Cup Ontario championships (1987, 1991).

“Coach Newbrough left an indelible mark at Laurier and the entire university community is saddened by the news of his passing,” said Kate McCrae Bristol, director of Athletics and Recreation at Laurier. “While he will forever be remembered for leading the Golden Hawks to a national title, Coach Newbrough’s impact went well beyond the football field. He took great pride in his affiliation with Laurier and the university is a richer community for his decades of contributions.”

Upon his retirement in 1997, the OUAA honored Rich with the J.P Loosemore Award, presented to individuals who represent ethics, integrity and honesty in university sport. For his achievements, Laurier inducted Rich into the builders category of the Golden Hawk Hall of Fame in 1998. He received a lifetime Legend of Laurier football award in 2021.

In addition to his work with the football program, Rich consistently supported growth and a winning spirit across men’s and women’s sports at Laurier. Over the years, the Golden Hawks and broader university community became his extended family.

“It cannot be emphasized enough how much he cherished these relationships, which were keystones to his happiness and came to define the man he was,” Rich’s obituary notes of the relationships he shared at Laurier.

Rich is predeceased by his wife, Patricia, and survived by his children Greg (Karen) and Scott (Maureen), along with eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Wilfrid Laurier University Athletics in Rich’s memory.

Read Rich’s obituary in the Waterloo Region Record.

Read a story about Rich’s contributions and achievements in the Waterloo Region Record.