Jul. 17—New Mexico football’s all-time winningest coach has found a new home.
Former UNM head coach and defensive coordinator Rocky Long has been hired as a defensive analyst at Division II Fort Lewis College, the program announced Wednesday. Long, 74, served as the defensive coordinator at Syracuse University last season.
“Rocky Long is a college football legend,” Fort Lewis head coach Johnny Cox said in a release. “We are adding one of the top football minds and a great person to our staff.”
A quarterback at UNM from 1969-71, Long returned as the head coach of his alma mater in 1997 and led the Lobos to five bowl games in 11 seasons. Despite near unprecedented success at UNM — his 65 wins are the most of any coach in program history — Long stepped down in 2008, citing a feeling that he couldn’t take the program any further.
Shortly after, Long was hired as San Diego State’s defensive coordinator before he was promoted to head coach in 2011. In 11 seasons leading the Aztecs, he won three Mountain West titles (2012, 2015, 2018) and never had a losing season.
Long resigned from his post at SDSU in 2020 and returned to UNM as former head coach Danny Gonzales’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for three seasons. He left again to serve as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator in 2023 before parting ways with the program after head coach Fran Brown was hired in December.
Known for his innovative 3-3-5 defense, Long’s hiring at Fort Lewis marks the first time he hasn’t served as a head coach or coordinator since he was the defensive backs coach at TCU in 1988.
“Football has been a part of my life since I could remember,” Long said in a release. “Coach Cox has given me the chance to be an analyst, evaluate film, and help with game plans on defense. I’m looking forward to using my experience to create an impact defensively.”
Fort Lewis finished 0-11 in 2023, Cox’s second season at the helm. The Skyhawks have not won a game since Oct. 5, 2019, and have not had a winning season since 2015.
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
