Mark Long came to Chowan in the fall of 1993 after being recruited by then-coach Jim Garrison. Mark, a Fredericksburg, Va. native, got a later start than the average college student after entering the workforce for two years following graduation from Chancellor High School. But once on Chowan’s campus, Mark made a name for himself on the field at the middle linebacker position.
Mark manned the middle linebacker position for the then-Braves for two seasons where he would make a name for himself as one of the toughest tacklers to don the Chowan blue and white. Mark admired both Coach Garrison and his defensive coordinator, Dan Surface. Mark considered Coach Surface the best defensive coach he had ever played for. Mark may have chased Coach Garrison's rabbit once or twice in his freshman year and is grateful to have been able to play for Coach Garrison before his retirement.
Long still holds records for single-season tackles (145) and unassisted tackles (92), both collected in 1993. In 1995 he collected 118 total tackles, including 34 unassisted tackles and 84 assisted tackles. In that same year he earned the Male Athlete of the Year for his play on the field. Mark was also a solid student while at Chowan. He was a Presidential Ambassador, a Key Club Scholarship recipient, a member of the Dean’s List, the History Club, and a Cum laude graduate.
Following graduation from Chowan, Mark was hired by Northampton County Schools. He is currently still employed by Northampton County Schools and works in the Central Services Office as an assistant superintendent overseeing human resources and special projects. Mark has moved up the education ladder over his twenty-six years with Northampton County Schools. He has been a teacher, grant coordinator, assistant principal, and principal. He attended North Carolina State University and got his Master’s Degree in Education Administration. He is currently a doctoral candidate with hopes of defending his dissertation in May of 2023 at N.C. State.
Mark also served as an assistant coach for the Northampton County High School-East football program under Diego Hasty. He helped to coach over 25 players that went on to play at the collegiate level in his 10 year coaching career with the Rams. Mark also served as an assistant coach for the Hawks football program for two seasons.
Mark enjoys the outdoors and is an avid hunter and fisherman. Mark is married to Meredith Long, also a Chowan University “Jim Garrison” Hall of Fame member. Mark and Meredith become the first husband and wife duo to be inducted into the hall of fame for their athletic achievements at Chowan. Together the two have two daughters, Dakota, who is a senior at Hertford County Early College, and Dallas who is a freshman at Hertford County Early College.
