July 24, 2008

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University Director of Athletics Bob Marcum has named Kevin Long interim head coach of the Thundering Herd women's soccer program.

"We are fortunate to have someone with head coaching experience already here to serve in an interim basis," Marcum said. "I am confident that Kevin will do an outstanding job."

Long will take over at Marshall after finishing his fifth season as the head coach of the Rider Broncs in 2007 and serving briefly as an assistant at Marshall. Long departed as the winningest coach in the history of the women's soccer program at Rider with a 37-48-12 career record. Last season, his team produced nine academic all-conference selections.

"I wish Chris (Kane) and his family the best in their new endeavor," Long said. "I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to lead the Thundering Herd women's soccer program. The fact that I came in earlier as an assistant coach will be very beneficial in the transition."

He replaces Chris Kane who resigned earlier this week to accept a position at a private academy in Georgia.

In his first two years at Rider, Long led both the 2003 and the 2004 Broncs to a school-record for victories, 11 in 2003 and 12 in 2004, and to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoffs. In 2004 he led Rider to the MAAC Championship Game, and in 2005 Long led Rider to a first-round victory in the MAAC Championship tournament.

The 2003 season was the first winning season ever for Rider and the Broncs won two tournaments during the campaign. Rider was ranked 27th nationally among best scoring offenses, with a win-loss record ranking among the top third in the nation. Long's 2003 Broncs led the MAAC in shots, points, goals, goals per game and assists in 2003, and three of his players were honored for high academics. In 2004 six of his players earned All-MAAC honors, and three others were on the MAAC All-Academic team.

The former head coach of the Randolph-Macon Woman's College soccer team, Long became the third coach of the Rider women's program in March 2003.

Long is a 1993 graduate of George Mason University, where he was a member of the varsity soccer team. Long began coaching at Randolph-Macon women's College in 1997 before moving on to N.C. State, one of the premier soccer programs in the nation.