| ROCKY LONG |
Last Updated 1/12/11 |
Rocky Long, the second-winningest coach in the Mountain West
Conference, has been named the 18th head coach in San Diego State
football history, Aztec director of athletics Jim Sterk announced
Wednesday.
Long has 37 years of coaching experience, with 11 as the head coach
at New Mexico from 1998-2008. He has coached in seven bowl games,
including SDSU's 35-14 win over Navy in last month's San Diego
County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
Long has served the past two years as the defensive coordinator at
San Diego State and has been instrumental in its drastic improvement
in the defense. Prior to his arrival, the Aztecs ranked 112th in
pass efficiency defense, 113th in total defense and scoring defense
and 118th in rushing defense. In two short seasons, Long brought
SDSU into the top 60 in all four defensive categories, highlighted
by a No. 20 spot in pass efficiency defense in 2010.
Long helped San Diego State finish with a 9-4 record in 2010, the
school's most wins in a campaign since the 1977 squad went 10-1. The
Aztecs posted their first winning season in 12 years and won their
first bowl game since 1969.
In his two years at SDSU, Long has coached six players to all-MWC
honors, including 2010 first-team selections junior Miles Burris and
sophomore Leon McFadden.
At New Mexico, Long compiled a school-record 65 victories and led
the Lobos to five bowl game appearances in his final seven seasons,
despite inheriting a team that had three winning seasons the
previous 15 years. His teams were bowl eligible in seven of his
final eight campaigns.
Long, the 2002 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year, has
earned a national reputation for producing one of the nation's
stingiest defensive units. 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 nationally against the rush
every year. In addition, six times his units were among the top 26
in fewest rushing yards allowed per game, including fifth-place
finishes in both 2001 and 2003.
While at New Mexico, he coached 10 players selected in the NFL
Draft, 10 players who earned All-America honors since 2001 and 34
first-team all-conference selections since 2003. He's been on the
winning side of the San Diego State-New Mexico series 10 consecutive
seasons (eight with New Mexico, two with SDSU).
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at New Mexico, Long
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.
He 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.
Originally a defensive back, Long became a three-year starter at
quarterback for the Lobos from 1969-71. He earned team MVP honors
three times and was the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player
of the Year as a senior. He is a 1974 graduate of New Mexico and was
awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Long and his wife, Debby, have two daughters, Roxanne and Hannah.
|
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| 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 |
San Diego State |
Head Coach |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
|
