BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Former Lady Cardinals standout athlete and decorated golfer Kellyn Boo Newsome has been hired as the new head softball coach at Martin County High School, according to an announcement made by the school.
Known for her versatile sports background and coaching experience, Newsome is set to bring a winning mentality to the Lady Cardinals team.
“Softball was always one of my favorite sports,” Newsome said. “I grew up playing in the softball leagues in Martin County, but I also traveled to Johnson County and came through their feeder program. My mom later became the high school softball coach, and I played under her for three years.”
Newsome, a 2017 Sheldon Clark High School graduate, is a former basketball and softball player who eventually found her success in golf. She became the winningest golf player in the history of Sheldon Clark High. With a scholarship, she continued her golf career at the University of Pikeville (UPike), where she became the most decorated golfer in the history of UPike, winning 16 tournaments and achieving All-American status in her senior year.
Newsome’s journey to coaching followed an initial ambition of becoming a doctor, which shifted post-COVID. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in 2020 and master’s in business health administration in 2022, she returned to Martin County, where she began her coaching career as an assistant basketball coach under her mother, Hall-of-Famer Robin Newsome. She later joined Martin County High School as a health education teacher and became the basketball coach of the Martin County Middle School girls.
Apart from her role in high school, Newsome is also an assistant coach of women’s golf at UPike. Her vast experience in sports and coaching, coupled with her intimate knowledge of the Lady Cardinals softball program, where she played under her mother for three years, is expected to bring positive changes to the team.
“My goal is to bring a winning mentality to our girls and establish a culture where we can step on the field with any team and expect to win. It might not happen overnight, but if we have girls, parents and community buy into this culture, we can expect good things to happen,” said Newsome.
“I want to build a first-class program – one day, one practice, one drill at a time. So, when kids in the lower ranks get the opportunity to play high school softball, they can walk in on day one and be successful.”
Newsome acknowledged the process would require hard work. She expressed her dedication to serving the youth and contributing positively to their lives.
“I believe God placed me here for many reasons,” she said. “I just want to help our kids in any way possible to be successful in life and excel on and off the field.
“It is my honor and privilege to lead the Lady Cardinals and to be able to serve Martin County High School,” added Newsome. “I thank Superintendent Larry James, the Martin County Board of Education and Principal Brian Charles for this opportunity.”
Newsome will hold a parent/player meeting Wednesday (July 26) at 4 p.m. at Martin County High School. She encourages any player interested in high school softball to attend the informational meeting.