Chowan University Athletics

Meredith Long enters her 25th year at Chowan University.  Long first came to Chowan in 1999 as the Head Softball Coach and Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach but was no stranger to Chowan University. The 1996 graduate was a two-sport athlete for the then-Braves, playing both basketball and softball while a student. She set and still holds records in the softball program for career batting average and career fielding percentage. She was named All-Region in both softball and basketball during her time at Chowan. 

She is a member of the Chowan University Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted as an inaugural member of the Currituck County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Long served as the school’s softball coach for seven seasons (1999-2006) before resigning to take on a more administrative function as the school transitioned to NCAA DII status. During her coaching career she led the then-Braves to a 2003 regular season USA South Softball title and was named Coach of the Year in that same season. She helped guide the team to 135 wins as head coach over seven seasons and posted four consecutive twenty-win seasons ('03-'06). In her tenure she coached over 20 All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American softball players. 

After serving as assistant sports information director for two years, Long took over the position in 2001 and currently still oversees duties associated with the promotion of the department as well as game day operations. Long serves as the Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator overseeing Athletic Communications and Operations. She oversees the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus and helped initiate the NCAA's CHAMPS/Life Skills program in its first year (2009). She also has sport oversight in  cheerleading, women's soccer, men's and women’s cross country, women's lacrosse, softball, men's and women's swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball. Long also serves on several University committees including the Branding Committee, the Assessment Committee, the Honors Committee. She was granted membership into Lux Et Veritas in May of 2024 after serving the university for 25 years. 

She received her B.S. in Physical Education from Chowan in 1996 and her M.S. in Sport Management from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. 

Long has held many NCAA Committee positions over her collegiate administrative career including NCAA D2 Regional Ranking Committee positions in both softball and volleyball. Long is a graduate of the NCAA/NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement. In May of 2010 she was named CIAA SWA of the Year and earned Chowan University Female Employee of the Year honors the following year. In 2011, Long was among twenty candidates selected nationwide for the NCAA/ADA DII Mentorship program. She has held several committee positions within the USA South, the CIAA, and Conference Carolinas in her tenure. 

Long is married to Mark Long, also a Chowan graduate and former football standout. The couple are the first to both be inducted into the Chowan Athletics Hall of Fame. Together they have two daughters, Dakota and Dallas. Long is active in her church community, Murfreesboro UMC and enjoys the outdoors.