A group of track coaches got together in 1969 to discuss the possibility of creating an Iowa track coaches association. Hall of fame members Bill Bergen and Fred Shadle were joined that day by one of today’s Hall of Fame inductees Dave Long, and the IATC was born.
Dave followed Bergen and Shadle as heads of the IATC, serving as President in 1971.
Dave Long coached high school track and cross country in Iowa for 22 years. His career began in 1961 at Sheffield. He moved on to Clear Lake in 1964 and then spent 1969 through 1982 at Mason City.
It was at Mason City that Dave took his coaching abilities to the next level. His Cross Country teams produced 4 state cross country team titles, along with 5 individual crowns.
In track and field he coached over 30 individuals or relay teams to state meet gold. Among the standouts he mentored were fellow Hall of Famers Scott Crowell a state champion and record holder in the discus who went on to be an NCAA champion at Iowa State and Mark Johnson who won 4 state Cross Country titles along with setting the 2 mile run record at the Drake Relays.
Dave was selected as state track and field coach of the year by his peers, was a member of the Drake Relays High School jury for 6 years and served for 16 years on the Track and Field Advisory Board.
When he decided it was time hang up the stop watch, Dave knew he wanted to continue his career in education. A career that has spanned 47 years to date.
Dave left Mason City to become a high school superintendent in California. He held the position of a District Superintendent for 10 years, and then was the Riverside County Superintendent for 9 years. He once was selected by the California Department of Education as Superintendent of the year. His next stop was as California Secretary of Education where he served under Governor Schwarzenegger for 2 years.
Although his career as a superintendent and Secretary of Education has ended, Dave is still involved in education as he now owns and facilitates his own educational consulting firm in Sacramento.
He was born in Lake City, grew up in Belmond, he got his BA at UNI, his Masters at Truman State and his Ph.D at Iowa State. Although he has been transplanted to the West Coast, he will forever be an Iowa Boy at heart.