Newsome’s Mackey steps down

Posted Sep 14, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Sep 14, 2011 at 06:56 PM

Newsome boys varsity basketball coach Jon Mackey, the program’s only coach since the school opened in 2003, resigned Wednesday from his position.

Mackey, who guided the program to within one win of the state final four in 2010, where the Wolves fell to eventual Class 5A state champion Bartow in the region final, said seeing his son play in college has become his biggest priority.

Trent Mackey, who graduated from Newsome this past spring, is a freshman on the University of Louisiana-Monroe’s men’s basketball team.

“I want to see him play,” he said. “I want to be there to support him, whether he’s playing or not and help him live his dream.”

Newsome won its first district title in 2010 and made its first state playoff appearance in 2008.

“I’ve been doing this for 37 years,” said Mackey, who also coached at King, Durant and Brandon. “Will I get back (into coaching), who knows?”

The Wolves finished 17-9 this past season and lost to East Bay in the district tournament semifinals.