The Wilfrid Laurier University community mourns the loss of Golden Hawk football coach Earl Richard ‘Rich’ Newbrough who passed away on June 29 at 87 years old.
Newbrough spent 30 seasons on Laurier’s football coaching staff, holding the title of offensive coordinator, assistant director of athletics, director of athletics and head football coach. In 1991, he assisted the Golden Hawks in their Vanier Cup national title and was named National Coach of the Year. He also helped the Hawks win two Yates Cup Ontario championships in 1987 and 1991.
After retiring, Newbrough received the OUAA J.P. Loosemore Award in 1997 and was inducted into the builder’s category of the Golden Hawk Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2021, he received the Legend of Laurier football award.
Remembered as an invaluable part of the Laurier community and an advocate for men and women’s sports at Laurier, Newbrough will be missed.
Newbrough’s family includes his wife, Patricia, and their children, Greg and Scott. He also has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Instead of flowers, Newbrough’s family has asked for donations to be made to Wilfrid Laurier University Athletics in his memory.
The loss of a member of the Laurier community has a profound impact on students and the university community. There are services and supports available for those who need them:
- Student Wellness Centres: 519.884.0710 x3146 or wellness@wlu.ca (Waterloo) or 519.756.8228 or lbwellnesscentre@wlu.ca (Brantford).
- Delton Glebe Counselling Centre: 519.884.3305 or glebecentre@wlu.ca.
- Dean of Students’ Office: 519.884.0710 x3533 or deanofstudentswl@wlu.ca (Waterloo) or 519.756.8228 x5716 or deanofstudentsbr@wlu.ca (Brantford).
- Laurier Human Resources employee and family assistance program: 519.884.0710 x2007 or hr@wlu.ca.
