UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer head coach Jeff Cook announced the addition of Clint Long to his staff as an assistant coach, specifically in charge of the Nittany Lion goalkeepers.
"I am delighted to welcome Clint Long to Penn State University and our men's soccer program," said Cook. "After a comprehensive and national search, Coach Long emerged as the outstanding candidate to join our coaching staff. Clint has an outstanding background as a coach and as an elite-level player that will allow him to make immediate contributions to our program and to our student-athletes.
"While his specific area of coaching focus will be on developing our talented group of goalkeepers, I am looking forward to working with Clint in all areas of our program and couldn't be more please to have him with us in University Park!"
"I'd also like to thank our search committee for their work during the hiring process, especially Tim Wassell from our women's soccer staff for his assistance and excellent support during our coaching transition," Cook added.
Long, who joined the staff on Monday, March 23, comes to Penn State from Oregon State where he was an assistant coach for the Beavers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The Beavers finished back-to-back seasons with Long on staff with winning records for the first time since 2002-03.
He managed all aspects of goalkeeping at Oregon State and helped the defensive unit by planning and executing training curriculum. The Beavers posted four shutouts during the 2018 season with a 1.12 goals against average. The defense had five shutouts and a 1.14 goals against average in 2019.
Long also assisted in the development of three first team Pac-12 All-Conference players in 2019, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2018, and two 2018 MLS SuperDraft picks.
"I'd like to thank head coach Jeff Cook for instilling the confidence in me to be the next assistant men's soccer coach at The Penn State University," said Long. "I am thrilled to be joining a great staff, team, university and the Nittany Lion family.
Prior to Oregon State, Long spent the 2017 season as an assistant coach at Otterbein University in Ohio. The Cardinals finished the season ranked 11th nationally in NCAA Division III, riding a 17-game win streak to finish with a 19-3 record.
Long coached the goalkeepers and the defense to 11 shutouts in 2017 and a 0.82 goals against average on the year. He helped develop one All-American, four all-region players, the OAC Defender of the Year, seven all-conference honorees, and six All-Ohio Team players.
The Cardinals were the OAC Tournament Champions and finished conference play with an undefeated record. The Otterbein staff was named the Great Lakes Regional Staff of the Year while leading the team to a NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Long also had coaching stops at his alma mater, Cal State Stanislaus, as the women's soccer assistant coach, UC-Merced as an assistant men's soccer coach, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an assistant/interim head men's soccer coach.
As a student-athlete, Long played at California State University Stanislaus from 2012-14. He was a three-time team captain, leading the Warriors to a 2012 CCAA Championship, the first and only in school history, as well as an NCAA Tournament appearance. Long was also the 2012 Cal State Stanislaus Newcomer of the Year.
Long totaled 5,096 minutes as the Warriors' goalkeeper, second most in program history. He held a career .788 save percentage and posted 14 shutouts from 2012-14, both second most in the school record books. Long also holds the Cal State Stanislaus single-season records for goals against average (0.83) and saves (98) as well as the record for career wins in net with 26.
He also spent two seasons at Oregon State as a goalkeeper.
After college he had playing stints for PDL clubs Midland Odessa Sockers and Fresno Fuego before advancing to the USL with the Sacramento Republic.
Long earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Cal State Stanislaus in 2014 and is currently working on a MBA from Otterbein University.
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