NEWTON, Texas (AP) _ Longtime Newton High School football coach Curtis Barbay has died after becoming ill during halftime of Newton’s home game against Buna.
Newton school Superintendent Sherrie Leach said the 68-year-old coach died Saturday afternoon at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont of a massive heart attack.
Troy Hollier was part of the officiating crew working the Newton-Buna game Friday night. He tells the Beaumont Enterprise that Barbay was returning to the field with his team after halftime when “he stopped near the goal line and kneeled down.”
Paramedics were called and administered oxygen before he was taken by ambulance to Beaumont, about 70 miles to the southeast.
Barbay had compiled a 317-96-6 record and two state titles in 36 years as Newton’s head coach.
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