SDSU Football Coach

Jun 07, 2019
Coach Rocky Long
SDSU Football Coach
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS        
  • Was named the 18th head coach in Aztec football history in January 2011 and became the first San Diego State head coach to lead the team to a bowl game in his debut campaign.
  • Long has amassed the most victories of any Mountain West head coach since the league's inception in 1999.
  • Under Long’s direction in 2017, the Aztecs became the first team in NCAA FBS history to register consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons by different players (Donnel Pumphrey in 2016, Rashaad Penny in 2017) and just the second with a pair of 2,000-yard rushers (also Texas).
  • In 2016, guided MW-champion SDSU to its fourth 11-win campaign in program history, accomplished consecutively for the first time in program history. SDSU won its second-straight bowl game for the first time in the Division I era. Long's three bowl game victories are the most in SDSU's Division I era.
  • Was the Mountain West Coach of the Year for the third time in 2015. Long commandeered an Aztec team that won its final 10 games of the season en route to an 11-3 mark, the program's first 11-win season since 1969. SDSU produced an 8-0 record in MW play, the 20th conference championship in program history and a win over Cincinnati in the Hawai'i Bowl.
  • Since his arrival on The Mesa, a total of 17 Aztecs have been chosen in the NFL Draft, including three in 2017, which tied for the most by a Group of 5 school and the most for SDSU since 2013.
  • San Diego State had at least one player selected in each NFL Draft from 2011-15.
  • Came to San Diego State to be the team's defensive coordinator in December 2008.
  • Arrived at SDSU after serving as head coach at New Mexico from 1998-2008. He was tabbed the league's coach of the year in 2002.
  • Compiled a UNM-record 65 victories and led the Lobos to five bowl game appearances in his final seven seasons. His teams were bowl eligible in seven of his last eight campaigns.
  • 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 against the rush every year. In both 2001 and 2003, New Mexico's defense ranked fifth nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed per game.
  • Prior to accepting the head coaching position at New Mexico, he 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.
  • Also served as an assistant coach at TCU, with the CFL's British Columbia Lions and started his career at New Mexico as a graduate assistant coach in 1972.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
  • Originally a defensive back, Long became a three-year starter at quarterback for the Lobos from 1969-71. He earned the team's most-valuable-player honors three times and was the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. 
  • Long played professionally in the CFL with British Columbia in 1972-73 and 1975-76. He also competed in the World Football League with the Detroit Wheels in 1974. 
  • Attended Alta Loma High School in Alta Loma, Calif.

EDUCATION

  • He is a 1974 graduate of New Mexico with a bachelor's degree in secondary education and was awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Long was a three-time academic all-conference pick and received the WAC Scholar-Athlete Award in 1970.
  • Long and his wife, Debby, have two daughters, Roxanne and Hannah.