Long hired as Marion baseball coach

JASPER, Tenn. — Just over a month after the position came open, Marion County High School has filled its head baseball coaching vacancy. Tony Long was named Tuesday as the Warriors’ new coach.

Long replaces Steven Roberts, who averaged 29 wins and took the program to the state tournament twice in six seasons.

“We had at least 30 applications come across my desk,” Marion County athletic director and assistant principal Troy Boeck said. “A lot of really good baseball coaches were interested. The baseball people I spoke to called this program a gold mine because of our facilities, support and talent.

“We narrowed it down to three really fine candidates, and then Coach Long just stood out. I don’t consider myself a baseball expert, but I do know about coaching and I was very impressed with his confidence and poise. He seems like he will really fit in with what we try to do in terms of cooperation between sports and discipline. And he’s well-respected around the state.”

Long led White House to the Class AA state championship in 2000 in Chattanooga and was named district coach of the year five times and region coach of the year three times while there. Besides his five years at White House, he has been a head coach at Columbia (Tenn.) Central and at Forsyth (Ga.) Central. He has been an assistant coach at Palmetto Ridge in Naples, Fla., the last seven years.

“I had heard a lot of good things about the program and knew they had a good history of winning,” Long said. “It was really important for me to get back into Tennessee and be closer to family.

“My fondest memories as a high school coach came at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga when we won the state title, so I’m excited about coming back to that area and the opportunity I’ve got now.”