Press Box Dedicated in Memory of Longtime Geneva High Coach, Athletic Director

GENEVA, IL - The Geneva High School Office will dedicate the Newbill Baseball Press Box, which was built in memory of longtime athletic director and wrestling and baseball coach Jim Newbill, during a varsity baseball doubleheader on Saturday, April 22.

The first pitch of the game will be thrown at 10 a.m. at the varsity baseball field.

The new press box was made possible by the Jim Newbill Memorial Fund. Newbill served as a high school social studies teacher and baseball and wrestling coach for over 35 years -- first at Oswego and then at Geneva High School. He served as Geneva’s Athletic Director for ten years and was a Geneva High School Hall of Fame inductee.

The Newbill family will be in attendance at the dedication and ribbon cutting.

Newbill died on his 72nd birthday on July 11, 2014. He is remembered for his years of dedication to coaching at Geneva High School. In his role as Geneva's athletic director "he introduced new sports, raised money for an elite weight room and gym, and modernized the school’s sports facilities," according to his obituary.

Newbill's obituary notes more of his achievements:

He was particularly proud of his efforts to expand the participation of girls in high school athletics, believing that boys and girls should have equal opportunities to compete and excel. Jim also brought the state high school baseball tournament to Cougar Stadium for a number of years, setting attendance and revenue records every time he organized it. For his efforts, the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association awarded him “Man of the Year” in 2005. He was also honored to be inducted into the Geneva High School Hall of Fame and to have a major wrestling tournament, the Jim Newbill Invitational, named after him.

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