Springfield College

Moira Long G '97 enters her 15th season as the head women’s volleyball coach and professor of physical education at Springfield College in the fall of 2025. Long has led the Pride to ten trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament, including a trip to the Elite 8 in 2011.

Long returned to Springfield College in the fall of 2011, where she earned a Master’s degree in Sport Management in 1997. During her two-year stint at Springfield College, Long served as the graduate assistant of the women’s volleyball program, and acted as the interim head coach in the spring of 1997.

For the previous 13 seasons, Long guided Plymouth State’s women’s volleyball program towards becoming one of the top programs in New England. She led the Panthers to nine post-season berths, including a trip to the NCAA Championships in 2004 when they won their first ever Little East Conference title. During her time at Plymouth State, Long owned an overall record of 301-156, good for a .658 winning percentage. Her teams totaled at least 20 wins in 10 of her seasons, including a record-setting year in 2009 when the Panthers went 32-6.

Long held several other roles in addition to coaching the Panthers during her tenure at Plymouth State. She served as a health and human performance instructor, teaching several physical education concepts and skills courses. From 1998-2008, Long was the Senior Women’s Administrator, Compliance Coordinator, and Academic Advisor for the Plymouth State Department of Athletics. In that capacity, she was responsible for compliance, budgeting, personnel, academic advising, and scheduling.

Long has previously served as President of the New England Women’s Volleyball Coaches Association (2005-07), as well as acted as the chair of the NCAA Division III Regional Volleyball Committee (2004-08) and vice-chair of the NCAA National Volleyball Committee (2005-07). She then moved up to chair the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Committee (2007-08).

A four-year starter in volleyball at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Long earned her bachelor’s degree in political science there in 1994. After her two-year stint at Springfield College, she spent one year at Dickinson College as head coach of volleyball and softball (1997-98) before heading to Plymouth State.
 

Long's Coaching Highlights

• Has led Springfield College women's volleyball to a record of 312-101.
• Produced 32 AVCA All-American, 35 AVCA All-New England and 29 NEWMAC All-Conference student-athletes at Springfield. 
• Has coached five student-athletes who have become the NEWMAC Women's Volleyball Athlete of the Year, including Lauren Holt '17, who was named the NEWMAC Women's Volleyball Athlete and Defensive Player of the Year following a remarkable senior season.
• Has been named the NEWMAC Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year four times and was also named the AVCA Division III New England Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2023. 
• Has had student-athletes combine for six CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, including Tessa Smolinski '14, who was named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in 2013, and was the Elite 89 recipient in 2012.
• Led the Pride to an appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament's Elite Eight in her first season. 
• Has helped Springfield College women's volleyball to a pair of NCAA Division III Hitting Percentage titles.