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| Mike DeLong and his players celebrated his 200th career win, which came earlier this season vs. Union. Springfield athletics photo |
Longtime Springfield head football coach Mike DeLong has announced that he will retire after 32 seasons at the helm of the football program. DeLong, Springfield's all-time winningest football coach, guided the program to 11 postseason appearances, including five trips to the NCAA Tournament.
"It has been the ultimate privilege for me to serve as the head football coach at Springfield College for the past three-plus decades," DeLong said, who took over the program in 1984. "I cannot stress enough how thankful I am for the efforts that the student-athletes, coaches, and staffs have put in over the years as we've continued to build the Springfield College football program. The time is right for me to begin a new adventure with my family, and I am looking forward to having my first fall off in 41 years. Now it's time for me to direct my focus on being a husband, father, and grandfather."
DeLong was just the 13th head coach in the long and distinguished history of the program, which dates back to 1890 and Amos Alonzo Stagg. Additionally, he was an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education and Health Studies.
"I feel so lucky to have been able to work with talented and dedicated Springfield College student-athletes these past 32 years. To help boys develop into men, but even more importantly, develop into leaders on and off the field is something that I will forever cherish."
Springfield president Mary-Beth Cooper expanded on the lasting impact that DeLong has left on the campus community. "In my short tenure with Coach DeLong, I was quickly impressed with his love of the sport and the compassion he showed to his players. He will long be remembered as the quintessential teacher coach. Although we will miss his quick wit and quiet leadership, his professionalism and dedication to Springfield College will be forever felt."
Athletic director Craig Poisson spoke of the legacy that DeLong has had: "What people will remember about Mike DeLong is that he was the consummate professional. A true teacher coach, Mike molded thousands of men on and off the field and he is someone who has been a role model for so many on this campus for so long. He has gained my utmost respect through his dedication and loyalty to the Springfield College football family and we were beyond fortunate to have him as its leader for so many years."
DeLong posted a 201-139-2 career record and is the one of only 19 coaches in the history of Division III football to reach the 200 win career plateau. DeLong has directed the Pride to five NCAA playoff appearances, five Freedom Football Conference titles, one Empire 8 co-title (2006), and six Eastern College Athletic Conference postseason bowl games. In addition, DeLong helped Springfield become established as one of college football's premier running attacks, leading Division III in rushing seven times ('96, '99, '00, '02, '03, '06, and 2011) and finishing second in 2004, 2009, and 2012.
With success came well-deserved recognition, and in 2001, the All-American Football Foundation selected DeLong as a recipient of its Johnny Vaught Lifetime Achievement Award for Head Coaches. He also won FFC and American Football Coaches Association District I Coach-of-the-Year accolades in 2000 and '03. In 2006 alone, DeLong earned four Coach of the Year awards when was unanimously named Empire 8 Coach of the Year, NEFWA Division II/III Coach of the Year, AFCA Division III Coach of the Year (Region I), and D3football.com East Region Coach of the Year.
A native of Holland Patent, N.Y., DeLong is a 1974 Springfield College graduate and earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and was a defensive lineman under coach Ted Dunn for three seasons.
After graduation, DeLong served as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach at Holland Patent High School for three years before attending the University of North Carolina. While earning his master's degree in physical education at Chapel Hill, DeLong was a volunteer graduate assistant defensive coach on a team that played in the Liberty Bowl. In 1978, DeLong was appointed assistant professor of physical education at Maine Maritime and served one year as defensive coordinator before taking over the head coaching duties for two years. DeLong returned to Springfield as the defensive coordinator in 1981 and was promoted to head coach in 1984 after Howard Vandersea's eight-year stint at the helm of the program.
Under DeLong's leadership, Springfield had 22 All-Americans, including seven D3football.com All-America selections, four Academic All-Americans, and 10 D3football.com All-East Region selections.
A national search will begin immediately to find DeLong's replacement.