McMurry University Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics Sam Ferguson removed the interim title from women’s basketball head coach Drew Long, making him the program’s official head coach Monday.
Long joined the McMurry staff on August 5, 2021 and hit the ground running, taking over the program on the back-end of its offseason. In his interim season, Long’s squad earned three wins in the last six games and had five additional games decided by five points or less.
“It has been a blessing working with Coach Long over the last seven months,” said Ferguson. “Anyone who has paid attention to our team knows the team experienced great growth under Coach Long’s leadership. What I’m most excited about is the level of personal growth I have observed in the members of our team. He has been committed to the process of Developing Champions for Life, and his work with our team reflects that mission. Further, Coach Long and Coach Ayla Adams have done a tremendous job on the recruiting front and their work has us favorably positioned to compete at a high level in the ASC in the seasons to come.
“Coach Long has earned this permanent appointment and we couldn’t be more excited to support him and his program!”
Long rejoined the coaching ranks after six years as the Deputy Director of Athletics for Internal Operations at Abilene Christian University. Prior to that, Long had successful stints as a high school head coach and high-level assistant coach.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to lead the women’s basketball program here at McMurry,” said Long. “The support we have received from administration and others in the community has been so positive. I’m proud of the work our team has put in both on and off the floor, but know we have so much more to do. We will continue to trust the process and continue to build a championship culture that the University and the rest of the War Hawk family will be proud of.”
Long worked as an NCAA Division I men’s basketball assistant coach with stops at the University of Colorado (2007-10) and the United States Air Force Academy (2010-15). He also has prior NCAA Division III experience, serving as the sole assistant at Southwestern University during the 2006-07 season.
He also spent one season at Faith West Academy in Houston as the director of athletics and head boys’ basketball coach, leading the team to a 26-9 record in 2015-16.
A Houston native, Long graduated from Northwestern in 2004 with a degree in communications. He lettered two seasons on the Wildcats’ basketball team for head coach Bill Carmody. After graduation, he served as the director of operations for the Houston Swoosh AAU organization and went on to coach a variety of youth basketball teams and clinics across the state of Texas.
Long and his wife, Dr. Melissa Long, have made their home in Abilene and have three daughters: Alice, Christie and Emery.
Photo Courtesy McMurry Athletics
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