Head coach Charles Long comes to Snow College after spending the past two seasons as the head men's and women's soccer coach at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., where he compiled a record of 29-7-1 with the women's team, and a 27-8-1 record with the men's team.
He brings over 25 years of coaching experience between the youth, high school, junior college and four-year university levels. Though he is originally from Richmond, Virginia, Long spent the majority of the first 18 years of his life living in Brazil. He is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish. His personal experience and ability to communicate effectively with players from other nationalities is a unique tool Long will be able to utilize as international student-athletes adjust to life.
"I understand what it's like coming to America from another country and the challenges that come with that," Long said. "It's hard to adjust to a new society, new food and new traditions. I can relate to that and I'm sensitive to that with international student-athletes. My goal is to create a family environment for them as quick as possible."
In his first season at the helm, the Cloud County men's team finished 13-5-1 overall and advanced to the second round of the Region VI Playoffs, while the women's team posted a 15-3 overall record and also reached the second round of the playoffs. In his second season as the women's coach, the team went undefeated in conference with an overall record of 14-3. That same year, the men went 13-5-1 and finished runner-up in conference. Both teams advanced to the playoffs and placed seven players on the all-conference team, including top male and female players in the conference.
Prior to Cloud County, Long spent the 2017-18 school year building the men's and women's soccer programs at the University of Virgin Islands. He also has recent experience inside the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference after spending three seasons (2014-16) leading the soccer programs at Garden City Community College.
While at Garden City, Long spearheaded the turnaround of the Lady Broncbusters as they finished 8-10-1 overall in 2014 after posting a 1-14 mark the previous season.
The men's team thrived under Long as they were ranked as high as No. 13 nationally his first seasons, and advanced to the third round of the NJCAA playoffs in his second year at the helm.
Long was drafted by the Oklahoma City Slickers of the American Soccer League but turned in down for a chance with Chicago Sting 1982 before a knee injury sidelined his playing career. He later in his career started and was a player coach with the Montgomery Capitals USISL. His first coaching job came at Belhaven College from 1982-86, which is where he fell in love with the profession.
His career has included stops at the University of West Florida (1986-93), Mount Mary College (2002-04), Western Texas College (2008-2012) where he started both men and women programs leading them to national ranking and academic as well along handful of youth coaching positions across North and South America.
Long graduated from Wheaton College in 1982 with a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and earned his Master's degree in Physical Education in 1989 from Mississippi College in 1989. Long also holds a Master's degree in Intercultural Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary.
He and his wife Angela have six children: Alex, Charlie, Brantly, Noel, Jonathon and Dalton.
