| ROCKY LONG |
Last Updated 8/15/12 |
Became the 18th head coach in Aztec football history in January
2011, and went on to take the squad to back-to-back bowl games
for the first time in the program's Division I history. Long is also the
first SDSU head coach to lead the team to a bowl game in his debut
season.
Guided San Diego State to an 8-5 record, the program's best
mark in a coach's inaugural season since 1986. The eight victories
are tied for second in school history by a first-year head coach.
Led the Aztecs to their first 3-0 start in 30 years, highlighted by
a 42-24 victory over Washington State, which snapped a 19-game
losing streak vs. Pac-10/12 foes and a 23-game skid against
schools from automatic BCS qualifying conferences.
In 2011, helped three players garner All-America honors, including
running back Ronnie Hillman, who was a third-team pick by the
Associated Press, tight end Gavin Escobar and cornerback Larry
Parker. The trio was among the record seven Aztecs named firstteam
all-Mountain West.
In Long's first season, SDSU led the league in turnover margin
(0.92/g), sacks (2.23/g), tackles for loss (6.54/g), sacks allowed
(0.85/g) and fewest penalties (41.1 ypg.).
With his guidance, four Aztecs were selected in the 2012 NFL
Draft, including running back Ronnie Hillman (third round), linebacker
Miles Burris (fourth), quarterback Ryan Lindley (sixth) and
defensive lineman Jerome Long (seventh). The four picks tie as the
program's most overall since 1988.
Came to San Diego State to be the team's defensive coordinator
in December 2008. In his first year, he helped improve defensive
marks in points allowed, first downs, rushing, total defense, third-down
conversion percentage, fourth-down conversion percentage,
sacks, interceptions and red-zone conversion percentage, among
other categories.
In his second campaign, he was part of the coaching staff that
helped the Aztecs make their first postseason appearance and log
their first winning record in 12 years.
Came to SDSU after serving as head coach at New Mexico from
1998-2008, where he amassed the most victories of any Mountain
West head coach in the conference's history, prior to 2010. He was
tabbed the league's coach of the year in 2002.
Compiled a New Mexico-record 65 victories and led the Lobos
to five bowl game appearances in his final seven seasons. His
teams were bowl eligible in seven of his last eight campaigns.
In his final nine seasons in Albuquerque, Long's defensive units
ranked among the top 30 in fewest yards allowed six times and
among the top 40 against the rush every year. In both 2001 and
2003, New Mexico's defense ranked fifth nationally in fewest rushing
yards allowed per game.
While at New Mexico, he coached 13 players selected in the NFL
Draft, 10 players who earned All-America honors and had a MWChigh
34 first-team all-conference selections since 2003.
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at New Mexico, he
served as defensive coordinator for 12 seasons at three different
schools. He was the defensive coordinator for two years under Bob
Toledo at UCLA in 1996-97, for five seasons at Oregon State from
1991-95, and for five campaigns at Wyoming from 1981-85.
Also served as an assistant coach at TCU, with the CFL's British
Columbia team and started his career at New Mexico as a graduate
assistant coach in 1972.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Originally a defensive back, Long became a three-year starter at
quarterback for the Lobos from 1969-71. He earned the team's
most-valuable-player honors three times and was the Western Athletic
Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Long played professionally in the CFL with British Columbia in
1972-73 and 1975-76. He also competed in the World Football
League with the Detroit Wheels in 1974.
Attended Alta Loma High School in Alta Loma, Calif.
EDUCATION
He is a 1974 graduate of New Mexico with a bachelor's degree
in secondary education and was awarded an NCAA postgraduate
scholarship. Long was a three-time academic all-conference pick
and received the WAC Scholar-Athlete Award in 1970.
PERSONAL
Long and his wife, Debby, have two daughters, Roxanne and Hannah.
Both of Long's daughters are head coaches at the university level.
Roxanne was hired this July as the head women's basketball coach
at Rogers State University (NAIA) in Claremore, Okla., after four
years in the same position at Texas Lutheran (NCAA Division III).
Hannah, meanwhile, is the head volleyball coach at Southwestern
University, an NCAA Division III school in Georgetown, Texas.
She is a four-time conference coach of the year and this past season
led the Pirates to the NCAA regional semifinals and a 30-4 overall
record.
|
|
| THE LONG FILE |
| Hometown |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
| High School |
Alta Loma, 1968 |
| College |
New Mexico, 1974 |
| Family |
Wife, Debby
Daughter, Roxanne
Daughter, Hannah |
| COACHING HISTORY |
| Year |
Team |
Title |
| 2011-13 |
San Diego State |
Head Coach/Def. Coord |
| 2009-10 |
San Diego State |
Def. Coord. |
| 1998-08 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
| 1996-97 |
UCLA |
Def. Coord. |
| 1991-95 |
Oregon State |
Def. Coord. |
| 1988-90 |
TCU |
Sec. Coach |
| 1986-87 |
CFL's B.C. |
LB's |
| 1981-85 |
Wyoming |
Def. Coord./Sec. |
| 1979-80 |
New Mexico |
Sec. Coach |
| 1978 |
New Mexico |
Off. Backfield Coach |
| 1974-75 |
Albuquerque
Eldorado High |
Assist. Coach
Boy's Bball Coach |
| 1972-73 |
New Mexico |
Graduate Assis. |
| Bowl Games as a Coach (7) |
| San Diego State |
| 2011 |
New Orleans Bowl |
| 2010 |
Poinsettia Bowl |
|
New Mexico |
| 2007 |
New Mexico Bowl |
| 2006 |
New Mexico Bowl |
| 2004 |
Emerald Bowl |
| 2003 |
Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2002 |
Las Vegas Bowl |
| UCLA |
| 1997 |
Cotton Bowl |
| Coaching Ledger |
| Year |
School |
Title |
Record |
| 2011 |
San Diego State |
Head Coach |
8-5 |
| 2010 |
San Diego State |
Def. Coord. |
9-4 |
| 2009 |
San Diego State |
Def. Coord. |
4-8 |
| 2008 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
4-8 |
| 2007 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
9-4 |
| 2006 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
6-7 |
| 2005 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
6-5 |
| 2004 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
7-5 |
| 2003 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
8-5 |
| 2002 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
7-7 |
| 2001 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
6-5 |
| 2000 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
5-7 |
| 1999 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
4-7 |
| 1998 |
New Mexico |
Head Coach |
3-9 |
| 1997 |
UCLA |
Def. Coord. |
10-2 |
| 1996 |
UCLA |
Def. Coord. |
5-6 |
| 1995 |
Oregon State |
Def. Coord. |
1-10 |
| 1994 |
Oregon State |
Def. Coord. |
4-7 |
| 1993 |
Oregon State |
Def. Coord. |
4-7 |
| 1992 |
Oregon State |
Def. Coord. |
1-9 |
| 1991 |
Oregon State |
Def. Coord |
1-10 |
| 1990 |
TCU |
Sec. Coach |
5-6 |
| 1989 |
TCU |
Sec. Coach |
4-7 |
| 1988 |
TCU |
Sec. Coach |
4-7 |
| 1987 |
CFL's B.C. |
LB's Coach |
12-6 |
| 1986 |
CFL's B.C. |
LB's Coach |
12-6 |
| 1985 |
Wyoming |
Def. Coord./Sec. |
3-8 |
| 1984 |
Wyoming |
Def. Coord./Sec. |
6-6 |
| 1983 |
Wyoming |
Def. Coord./Sec. |
7-5 |
| 1982 |
Wyoming |
Def. Coord./Sec. |
5-7 |
| 1981 |
Wyoming |
Def. Coord./Sec. |
8-3 |
| 1980 |
New Mexico |
Sec. Coach |
4-7 |
| 1979 |
New Mexico |
Sec. Coach |
6-6 |
| 1978 |
New Mexico |
Off. Backfield Coach |
7-5 |
| Playing History |
| Year |
School |
Record |
| 1969 |
New Mexico |
4-6 |
| 1970 |
New Mexico |
7-3 |
| 1971 |
New Mexico |
6-3-2 |
|
SCHEDULE
ROSTER
NEWS
