Name:  Charlie Long
Office Phone:  252.985.5219
E-mail:  clong@ncwc.edu

Charlie Long enters his 17th season at North Carolina Wesleyan College and 11th as head baseball coach. Under the direction of Long and Assistant Coach Ernie Jones, the Battling Bishops captured the 1999 NCAA Division III National Championship. Additionally, Long and Jones have captured three USA South (formerly Dixie) Conference Championships, while leading Wesleyan to a 16-7 overall record in NCAA Tournament play. In ten seasons, Long has compiled 258-184-1 (.584) overall record at the helm of the Bishop baseball program.

Long played his collegiate baseball career at Mount Olive College (NC), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science as a Cum Laude graduate in 1989. The team’s most valuable player in 1987, Long posted a career batting average of .371. He was also an excellent fielder, committing only one error in his junior season at second base. In 1989, Long was selected as the Mount Olive College Athlete of the Year.

Long’s coaching career began in the fall of 1989. As a graduate assistant at Campbell University (NC), Long coached with former major league player, Mike Caldwell. His chief duties included infield and hitting instruction. Under Caldwell, the 1990 Campbell team advanced to the NCAA West Regional held at Stanford University. Long went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the Division I University.

In the fall of 1991, Long joined the Bishops' staff. He served as the women’s volleyball coach as well as fulfilling his duties as the school’s first full-time assistant baseball coach. In 1995, Long functioned as the Bishops’ interim head coach and led Wesleyan to the Conference Championship, making it to the title game of the South Regional. Wesleyan finished ‘95 with a 34-12 overall record.

Long’s 1995 team produced two All-Americans, Chris Bryant and Marvin Johnson, seven All-South Regional selections, and eight All-Conference performers. At shortstop, Bryant was named Conference Player of the Year as well as finishing as runner-up for National Player of the Year.

Long took over as full-time head coach for the Bishops in 1999. That same season, Long earned the Conference and South Regional Coach of the Year. He was also named the North Carolina College Coach of the Year, and after leading his team to the National Championship in Salem, VA, Long was honored as the American Baseball Coaches Association Diamond Division III National Coach of the Year. Long’s ‘99 squad had one All-American, pitcher Jayson Sigley, 10 All-South Regional performers, and eight All-Conference selections.

Long earned South Regional Coach of the Year honors again in 2006 after leading his Bishops to their 12th World Series appearance.  Wesleyan, who received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after capturing the USA South Tournament Championship, hosted and won the South Regional crown.  The 2006 Bishops were led by All-American pitcher Blake Rice, who tossed a program-record 12 complete games.

In addition to his coaching duties, Long serves as a teacher in the College’s Exercise Science program. He also teaches various activity classes as well as some upper level physical education courses. Furthermore, Long is a member of the Dixie Conference Awards Committee.

Long is a tremendous proponent of Division III athletics because of the type of desire and determination the philosophy brings out in the individual players. Athletes are dedicated and have a desire to prove that that they can play at any level. This attitude has proved to be a successful formula for the Battling Bishops.

Long is married to the former Tamara Johnson of Front Royal, VA. They have five children: Zachary, Holly, Justin, Colin, and Savanna. He and his family are proud to be members of Southside Baptist Church in Rocky Mount and remain active in several church-related organizations.