Long-time coach joins CASC

Long-time high school baseball coach, John Long, has joined the staff at Carl Albert State College an assistant baseball coach.

Long, who is from Clayton, has coached teams to  eight state championship titles, five state runner-up titles, 19 all-state players, and has an .875 winning percentage. He is also a three-time Oklahoma High School Coach of the Year and is a member of the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

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Throughout his coaching career, Long strove to develop the skills and attitudes needed for his students’ success.

“We are in the education business; to teach kids,” he said. “My practices were never the same. If we needed to work on something, we did. I’ve always told the kids: a man can do anything he sets his mind to.”

Long also spoke of the opportunities coaching has offered him, such as principal and superintendent roles.

“It has opened so many doors and I’ve gotten to meet a lot of good people,” Long said.”

During his career, he received multiple awards and honors. He credits his drive for coaching baseball to his high school coach, Mike Metheny.

“He set so many good examples of what a coach and a man should be,” Long said. “I wanted to be that guy.”

Long was prompted to join the Carl Albert coaching team because of his long-standing desire to coach at the collegiate level and the opportunity to help shape young men’s lives.

“Hopefully I can do for Carl Albert what Coach Metheny did for me. I want people to say ‘my kid is going to CASC because John Long is there’.” He also spoke highly of the current coaching staff. “I think there is a great staff out there on the field. I love the coaches. I think they do a good job.”

He described his relationship with the players as well, saying, “They are still learning and developing but they aren’t here by accident. I think they are capable of winning the College World series.”

When asked what he thought of the Carl Albert environment as a whole, Long said, “I love it here. Everyone is so professional and has been friendly to me ever since I got here. I’m so thankful for the opportunity they gave me to be a good example for others.” His advice to collegiate athletes is to “Work hard and be as good as you can be. Then, at the end of the day, you can say ‘I gave it my all’.”