Mike Long is entering his 20th season as Wingate’s offensive coordinator in 2020. The team’s assistant head coach, Long also coaches Wingate’s quarterbacks. He is the team’s community service coordinator and camp director. Long and the Bulldogs have hosted the nationally-recognized Special Olympics Football Field Day for 16 consecutive years.
The 2019 season brought a rare double-double to offensive lineman Andrew Strickland, as he made AFCA All-American on the field and Academic All-America® from CoSIDA for his efforts in the classroom. Strickland and four teammates made first team All-SAC. WU running backs Nijere Peoples and Domineke McNeill both made the first team. The Bulldogs were second in the SAC in passing offense (202.3) and passing yards per completion (15.76).
In 2018, Long’s offense had four first team All-SAC members and five total all-league picks. Running back Nijere Peoples was the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year with 110.3 yards per game and a league-best 14 rushing touchdowns. Long helped quarterback Shaw Crocker top the SAC charts in points responsible for (174).
Long helped Wingate running back Lawrence Pittman lead the SAC in rushing yards (1262) on the way to earning the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award in 2017. Also, Long mentored offensive lineman Daniel Owens as he won the coveted Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Five of Long’s offensive players made the 2017 All-SAC teams. The SAC champion Bulldogs led the league in time of possession (32:55) and first downs (229).
In 2016, Long’s offense was at the top of the league charts as the Bulldogs were second in the SAC in both rushing offense (227.1 yards/game) and passing offense (199.4 yards/game). The Bulldogs led the league in red zone offense and third down conversions. Quarterback Kyle Johnson had a career year, while running backs Blake Hayes and Lawrence Pittman led the SAC in rushing yards (1109) and rushing touchdowns (15), respectively. Hayes was a Harlon Hill Award nominee. Seven offensive players made the 2016 All-SAC teams.
Long helped three student-athletes make the 2015 All-SAC team: Denver Bronco signee Mathu Gibson, Harlon Hill nominee Lawrence Pittman and three-year leading receiver Jordan Berry. Long and the Bulldogs were an integral part of Wingate’s 2015 Make-A-Wish reveal. The school won the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence in recognition of this special event.
Long’s 2014 offense featured two Academic All-America® selections as named by CoSIDA. Offensive lineman Will Poteat was a first team pick, while tight end Brandon Ellington made the second team. Ellington is the first Wingate football student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® honors twice in his career.
Both Ellington and wide receiver Jordan Berry made the All-SAC team in 2014. Berry led the Bulldogs with 50 catches for 586 yards and six touchdowns during the 2014 campaign. He was third in the SAC in receiving touchdowns and receptions per game.
In 2013, Long mentored quarterback Robbie Nallenweg, helping him earn a spot as one of 28 candidates in the running for 2013 Harlon Hill Trophy. Nallenweg led the SAC in completions per game (28.1) and completion percentage (70.3) He was fourth in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings in both of the aforementioned categories.
Long helped the Bulldog offense put up fantastic numbers in 2012 as he mentored Wingate’s offensive line. In run-blocking, the offensive line helped the entire running back corps post 1049 yards and 15 touchdowns on the year. The O-Line’s pass-blocking led to a career season by Nallenweg as he broke school records for pass completions (326), pass attempts (491), and completion percentage (66 percent). Long’s standout and leader on the offensive line was redshirt senior center Joseph So, who was honored at the end of the year as an All-SAC first team and Don Hansen All-Super Region 2 third team selection.
Wingate was second in the South Atlantic Conference in passing offense (296.91 yards per game) in 2011. Bulldog offensive lineman Mike Arndt and quarterback Cody Haffly were named to the All-SAC team for the second season in a row. Ellington and wide receiver Chris Bowden joined Arndt on the All-SAC first team. Haffly led the SAC in total offense.
In 2010, Mike Long celebrated his 10th anniversary as a member of the Bulldog football coaching staff in a big way, as the Bulldogs won the SAC title. Wingate broke 35 school records on offense and special teams. Haffly set every major single-season passing record. He also broke the all-time Wingate and SAC record for TD passes in a season with 42. Haffly’s 3,952 yards passing in 2010 is the third-best single season total in the history of the league. The Bulldogs were second in the SAC in passing offense (332.7 yards per game) and total offense (443.3 yards per game).
Senior running back Nelson Woods became the school’s all-time leading rusher in 2010. Woods and Arndt made first team All-SAC. Haffly and wide receivers Perry Floyd and Delric Ellington earned second team laurels. Haffly was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award.
In 2009, Long mentored four Bulldogs to All-SAC honors. Lineman Ben Benshoof and running back Vince Jordan were named to the first team. Delric Ellington and tight end Ryan Webber earned second team distinction.
Wingate was second in the SAC in scoring offense (33.6 points per game) and passing offense (241.1 yards per game) during the 2009 season. The Bulldogs were third in the league in total offense (395.3 yards per game). Floyd was third in the nation in kick-off returns (30.38 yards per return) and ninth in punt returns (15.07 yards per return).
In 2008, the Bulldogs were number two in the SAC passing offense category. Wingate averaged 238.4 passing yards per game in 2008, placing the Bulldogs ninth on the NCAA Division II charts. Woods rushed for career-high 1238 yards on 248 carries in 2008. He led the SAC in both yards and carries. Woods, Webber and wide receiver Shawn Barrett earned All-SAC laurels following the 2008 campaign.
The SAC coaches named Woods the league’s Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2007. Tight end Chris Conklin was named first team All-SAC, while Woods and Barrett were selected second team All-SAC. Conklin signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers during the summer of 2008.
Woods rushed for a league-best 1,174 yards in 2007. He was Wingate’s first 1000-yard rusher since Tracy Bowen ran for 1,274 yards in 1997. During the 2007 season, Woods eclipsed the 100-yard mark during seven games. In addition, Wingate was third in the league in passing offense, averaging over 242 yards passing per game in 2007.
Five Bulldog offensive players were named to the All-SAC teams in 2006. Three-time All-SAC offensive lineman Brandon Manshack earned a first team slot in 2006 after making the second team two years in a row. Conklin and wide receiver Dan Brooks joined Manshack on the first team All-SAC.
Long and the offensive coaches keep the Bulldogs near the top of the SAC statistical rankings. The Wingate offense ranked second in the SAC in total offense per game with 342.7 yards per contest in 2006. Also, the Bulldog passing game was first among SAC teams (and eighth in NCAA Division II) at 273.8 yards per game.
Brooks led the SAC in receptions per game (5.55) and receiving yards per game (73.5) in 2006. Quarterback Anthony Metzelaars topped the SAC charts in passing yards per game (251.5) and total offense per game (245.7). Metzelaars was 16th in the NCAA Division II in total offense.
In 2005, Brooks shared the SAC lead in touchdown receptions (10). Both Brooks and Manshack earned post-season honors from the league. In 2004, Bulldog wide receiver Rodney Williams caught a (then) school-record 74 passes and became only the second receiver in the school’s senior college history to surpass 1000 yards receiving in a season.
Prior to joining coach Reich’s staff at Wingate, Long was an assistant football coach at Lehigh University. Long served as assistant offensive line coach and assistant recruiting coordinator at Lehigh.
Long helped with the Lehigh special teams, including the punt (long snappers), PAT/FG and kickoff teams. Also, he monitored the academic and athletic progress of the offensive line and served as Lehigh’s head JV coach.
During Long’s time at Lehigh, the Mountain Hawks won the Patriot League championship in 1999 and 2000. Also, Lehigh qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1999 and 2000. The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in rushing in 2000.
While a student-athlete at James Madison University, Long earned four varsity letters as an offensive guard for the Dukes. He started two seasons at JMU, as the team won the Lambert Cup in 1994 (his senior season). Long was elected the team’s most improved offensive lineman during the spring of 1993. The Dukes qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1991 and 1994.
Each August, Long coordinates Wingate’s Special Olympics Field Day for local athletes. Long was inducted into the Severn School Athletic Hall of Fame in May of 2011. Coach Long and his wife Erin have a daughter, Olivia Anna Long and a son, Nathan Dallas Long. The Long family resides in Indian Trail.
Coach Long’s recruiting areas include: North Carolina counties of Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender; also, South Carolina counties of Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Greenville, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union and York; also, the Southern California junior colleges.
