Grant Newton joined Conference USA in March 2025 as Senior Associate Commissioner and the league’s Chief Legal Officer. In his role, Newton oversees all legal functions, including managing legal risks, litigation, regulatory, corporate, and legal NCAA matters, as well as outside counsel management. Newton also provides strategic guidance regarding legal affairs to senior-level administration and the Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Conference USA, Newton practiced law at Vinson & Elkins LLP in Dallas, where his practice areas included commercial litigation and white-collar investigations, along with a particular focus on matters related to name, image and likeness in collegiate sports. Before his time at Vinson & Elkins, he served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Judge David L. Russell in the Western District of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.
Newton earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt University Law School. During law school, he worked as a law clerk in Vanderbilt's Office of the General Counsel, and as an extern for Nashville's Major League Soccer team, Nashville SC. Newton conducted his undergraduate studies at Oklahoma State University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2017.
Newton is a native of Kingfisher, Okla., and currently resides in Dallas with his wife Kaci, daughter Sylvie and son Gabe.