Long served in the Army during Vietnam and upon return obtained the JV coaching job in 1972 at his alma mater, Siena College. He led his team to a 10–10 record in his only season at the school. At the start of the 1973 season, Long was named head men's basketball coach at The College of Saint Rose, taking control of the reigns for the Saints' (former St. Rose Mascot) inaugural season. . His first team there went 5-15 and the next year there weren't enough players to have a season.