NEWTON CHELETTE

Newton Chelette came to Lancaster as an instructor and Head Men's Basketball Coach in 1989.  He brought ten conference titles in 17 seasons and has been named coach of the year seven years, including four straight. He coached seven straight conference players of the year, and his Marauder teams competed in the playoffs for 16 straight seasons and hosted playoff games in 13 of those years.  His teams were 382-174 (.687) overall and 164-52 (.759) in conference play.

In 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1998-99, Chelette's teams were undefeated in conference play, the only Marauder teams to achieve perfection in conference for those seasons. In the 2000-01 season, he became the winningest coach in Marauder basketball history, recording his 272nd win against Rio Hondo, and moving past the man he replaced, Bob Murray.

In 2004, he led the Marauders to the final four of the state championships for the first time since 1956. In 2001, he was inducted into the High Desert Men's Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame Coaches.

He also coached the Marauder Golf team for three years.

In 2004, Chelette moved into the AVC Athletic Director's chair, then in 2006, was named Dean of both Kinesiology, Athletics & Dance, and Visual & Performing Arts Divisions.

In 2008, he was inducted into the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame, and March 14, 2008, was proclaimed as "Newton Chelette Day" by his hometown of Iowa, LA.

In 2012, he was named interim Vice President of Student Services, and the City of Lancaster named him Citizen of the Year in 2013.

In 2016, the Marauder Gym hardwood floor was named the Newton Chelette Court.

While AD and VPSS, Chelette spearheaded a fundraising effort for Coaches vs. Cancer that gained over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. The amount raised by AVC was over four times the amount of any other California Community College athletic department donated.

Chelette served as co-chairman of the Passage of Measure R Committee, which helped upgrade Marauder Athletics facilities to some of the best venues in the state.

Chelette also served at the state level, including as President of the CCCAA Management Council, the Pacific Division of the American Football Conference, the Foothill Athletic Conference, the Men's Basketball Coaches Association, and the California Community College Athletic Director Association.

The CCCADA honored him with the Honoring Our Own Award. The award is given annually for "exemplary service" to the association.