| Jeff Long |
|
|
Visitors to the University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center may notice a striking photograph displayed through-out many of the offices within the Pitt Athletic Department.
The image features the profile of the impressive Panther statue that sits at the peak of Pitt's upper campus. Looming behind the Panther is the equally powerful Cathedral of Learning, the university's historic academic building that stretches 42 stories into the sky.
Emblazoned on a gold plaque beneath the picture are the words "Fulfilling Academic and Athletic Dreams."
The photograph was placed throughout the Events Center by Pitt athletic director Jeff Long to serve as a continuous and inspiring reminder of the department's daily mission.
The picture's blending of academic and athletic symbols is no coincidence. The image is reflective of Long's philosophy that intercollegiate athletics are an integral part of a university community that makes valuable contributions to the institution's overall educational mission.
Those principles have fueled the ambitions for Long's administration from the day he was appointed Pitt's athletic director in May 2003. The Athletic Department will strive to help Pitt's more than 452 student-athletes achieve their goals -- academically, athletically, personally and professionally.
Lofty goals? Absolutely. But carrying such high aims has resulted in Pitt establishing itself as one of the Big East Conference's -- and the country's -- upwardly mobile athletic programs.
The first four years of Long's tenure have been characterized by winning performances on the fields of play, high achievement in the classroom and bold initiatives in the areas of facilities, development and overall student-athlete welfare.
One indication of Pitt's success was revealed in the Sports Illustrated on Campus All-Sport Rankings (December 2006), which listed the Panthers No. 17 nationally.
Still another more comprehensive view into Pitt's success was revealed when the university was visited by the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification this past year. A "certified" designation is given when an institution operates its athletics program in conformity with principles established by NCAA Division I membership.
Not only was the University of Pittsburgh recertified, but the NCAA peer review team described many areas of Pitt's program as "models for others to follow."
Under Long's guidance, Pitt is continuously looking for ways to break new ground, both in terms of achievement and in enhancing the student-athlete experience. Such thinking led to Long's collaboration with the Provost and his staff to create the new position of career and life skills coordinator for student-athletes, which has greatly strengthened the athletic department's developmental and educational efforts.
That mindset is also revealed in Pitt's ambitious facility plan for Olympic sports that includes future construction of new competitive venues for baseball, softball, soccer and track and field as well as the Pitt Band.
Such ambition and energy have led to some remarkable achievements over the last four years.
Among the highlights:
• In 2005, Pitt Athletics launched the "Quest for Excellence" campaign. The athletic department's "Quest" is focused on the enhancement of the Pitt student-athlete experience. It aims to increase endowed athletic scholarships, capital gifts for building and improvement projects and annual contributions for student-athlete scholarships. Just over two-and-a-half years into the campaign, nearly $34 million has been raised.
• The unveiling of a sparkling new Olympic sports weight room in Fitzgerald Field House that greatly assists more than 300 student-athletes. Pitt also recently opened new training facilities for gymnastics and wrestling.
• Pitt hosting, and participating in, its first-ever women's NCAA basketball tournament. Pitt's Petersen Events Center was the site of opening-round games in 2007. The Panthers stormed to 24 victories on the year and advanced to the NCAA's second round where it gave eventual national champ Tennessee one of its toughest challenges of the tournament.
• The design of a new, yet familiar, uniform look -- a block-style "PITT" logo that serves as the primary mark for each of the Panthers' 19 varsity teams. The logo is a nod to Pitt's historic tradition that maintains a style focused squarely on the future.
• A partnership with adidas that puts Pitt in an elite and exclusive group of schools nationwide. Each of the Panthers' 19 intercollegiate sports teams wear adidas shoes, uniforms and apparel, making Pitt one of the finest outfitted programs in the country.
• On the communications front, Long partnered Pitt with ISP Sports, a national leader in the collegiate sports marketing industry. Owning exclusive multi-media rights to Pitt Athletics, ISP is elevating the Panthers' program from local and regional markets to the national level. The monthly publication "Panther Eyes" was spawned from the ISP association and provides entertaining and insightful information for Pitt followers everywhere.
• Pitt continues to carry a high profile in one of the nation's largest media markets because of its radio partnership with Clear Channel Communications. Now entering its fourth year, the agreement has Pitt football and basketball simulcast on 50,000-watt 3WS and Fox Sports Radio 970. With a consistently growing network of affiliates, the Panthers enjoy unprecedented radio coverage. Significant expansion to pre- and postgame coverage for these sports has been a hit with the Panther Nation. Moreover, women's basketball games are now carried by Fox Sports 970, the program's first-ever commercial flagship station.
• Also on the media front, Long helped initiate "Panthers Weekly," a popular television program produced by FSN Pittsburgh that shines the spotlight on Pitt's entire athletic scene.
In addition to his efforts at Pitt, Long is also very active on the Big East and national scene.
This past spring he was named to the Division I Men's Basketball Academic Enhancement Group. Comprised of leading university and athletic administrators from across the country, the group is charged with developing strategies to enhance academic performance and graduation rates in Division I men's basketball.
Long has emerged as a lead athletic director voice for the Big East as it relates to the Bowl Championship Series. The Big East remains a valued member of the BCS and Pitt earned the conference's automatic berth in 2004, playing in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
He was appointed to serve as one of the Big East Conference's representatives on the 49-member NCAA Division I Management Council, which plays a vital role in legislative issues and oversees cabinets responsible for academic affairs, eligibility, compliance, championships and competition.
Long serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association, an influential organization dedicated to the welfare and future success of student-athletes.
In 2004 he was appointed to the NCAA's Sports Wagering Task Force, a group formed after a national study commissioned by the NCAA revealed a disturbing frequency of sports wagering among student-athletes.
Long's accomplishments and high aspirations during his time at Pitt are not surprising considering his outstanding professional and personal pedigree. He is cut from the mold of winners and has worked in many of the country's highest-profile conferences, including the Big 12, Big Ten, Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference.
Prior to his Pitt appointment, Long served as the senior associate athletic director at the University of Oklahoma for two-and-a-half years. He oversaw all external affairs, including development, marketing/promotions, licensing, media relations, ticket operations, radio/television and SoonerVision productions. He additionally was the primary administrator for football and men's basketball and the sport supervisor for baseball, wrestling and men's and women's golf.
Prior to Oklahoma, Long was the athletic director at Eastern Kentucky University. He significantly improved Eastern Kentucky's athletic infrastructure during his two years with the completion of several facility projects and the formation of viable corporate partnerships and sponsorships.
Long also served a short tenure at Virginia Tech as associate athletic director prior to his Eastern Kentucky post. The majority of his career in collegiate athletic administration, though, was spent at the University of Michigan. Hired by legendary coach and athletic director Bo Schembechler, Long elevated through a number of administrative posts at Michigan before ultimately reaching associate athletic director.
Long has also held football coaching and administrative positions at Rice University, Duke University and North Carolina State University.
A 1982 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan with a bachelor's degree in economics, Long earned seven varsity letters in football and baseball. He received his master's degree in education from Miami University (Ohio) in 1983 after serving as a graduate assistant football coach.
A native of Kettering, Ohio, Long is married to the former Fanny Gellrich of Ann Arbor, Mich. The couple has two children, Stephanie (13) and Christina (8).
