Hall of Fame
Gary Long came to Coe from Boone, Iowa, having been a successful high school athlete. Known by his Kohawk football and wrestling teammates as "Thunder" he excelled in both sports at Coe, where he earned his baccalaureate degree in English before receiving his master's degree in Educational Administration at the University of Northern Iowa, Long, a hard-hitting and agile defensive lineman, was a member of two Midwest Conference champion football teams while earning four football letters. As a starting defensive tackle for four years Long never missed a game and earned All-Conference honors at that position. He served as co-captain of the team his senior season and Coach Wayne Phillips commented that "The leadership exhibited by the seniors can't be matched." As a member of three Midwest Conference championship wrestling teams, Long contributed important points in both dual meets and tournaments. As a quick-moving heavyweight, Long exhibited high levels of skill and technique. During his senior season, he led the team with the most takedowns, an unusual accomplishment for a heavyweight. Winning three consecutive Midwest Conference individual championships at heavyweight after a runner-up position as a freshman, Long was the cap on the Kohawk Killer's Row, which regularly mowed down the opposition. A four-year NCAA championship qualifier, Gary "Thunder" Long earned All- American recognition his senior year with a second-place finish in the NCAA Division III tournament in Binghamton, New York, where the Coe team finished number ten nationally. Long was the highest NCAA place winner from Iowa in that tournament and Coe earned the highest team finish of any Iowa school. Coach Barron Bremner commented, "He said all along he would be an NCAA national qualifier. He worked hard to achieve his goals." After Long's finish in 1977, no other Kohawk reached the finals of the NCAA wrestling tournament until 1995. Long, the oldest of five children, is very proud of the fact that his brother and three sisters all attended Coe College. Following graduation, Long taught English and journalism at Columbus High School in Waterloo and coached wrestling, football, and softball. He became Director of Athletics and Activities at Columbus in 1990. In 1996 Long moved to South Tama County High School, where he serves as Director of Athletics and Activities. He is also a highly respected baseball umpire and has worked several high school state tournaments. We are pleased to present this citation recognizing Gary Long, Class of 1977, as a member of the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame.
