[1][2][3] Long was the starting quarterback for the New Mexico Lobos football team from 1969 to 1971, recording consecutive winning seasons and earning player-of-the-year honors in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1971.

His professional career began with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1972, with which he played 68 games in total.

After an 11-season career, Long resigned on November 17, 2008, two days after the Lobos' regular game season ended.

[4] In 2011, he was promoted to head coach at San Diego State after two seasons as their defensive coordinator.

In 2020, Long resigned from San Diego State, and Brady Hoke was named as his replacement.

Roxanne is the former women's basketball program head coach at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma,[11] and Hannah is the women's volleyball program head coach at Queens University of Charlotte.