This is a photograph of Springfield College's 1988 football team. Players are seen standing and kneeling on and in front of bleachers with coaches in the back row, including Head Coach Mike Delong.
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Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
DeLong, a 1974 graduate from Springfield, was a defensive lineman under Coach Ted Dunn for three seasons before attending the University of North Carolina, serving as volunteer graduate assistant defensive coach. By 1978, DeLong was defensive coordinator at Maine Maritime before becoming head coach in ’79, going 4-5 in his first year at the helm, followed by an 8-1 campaign in 1980 which was the best record in the program’s 35-year history. DeLong was named the New England Coach of the Year by United Press International and The Boston Herald-American while the Mariners won the New England Conference Championship. In 1981, DeLong returned to Springfield as the defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach in 1984. DeLong led the Pride to 189 wins, the most of any Springfield College coach, including compiling 201 wins in his career (including 12 in his first head coaching position at Maine Maritime), wrapping up his career as the winningest active head coach in Division III football in New England. Coach DeLong retired after the 2015-2016 season.
