Spring Valley basketball coach Anne Long stepping down
Spring Valley girls basketball coach Anne Long is stepping down after 41 years in coaching.
“I have been at this a long time and there are some other things that are important to me,” Long said. “It was a very tough decision. It is what I love to do. I just would like to credit the student athletes I have been able to coach throughout the years. It wasn’t about me. It was a total team effort. At every school and every team I had is like an extended family. I am really blessed.”
Long said she doesn’t have any plans for her future, but would like to serve as a mentor or do some clinics and community service projects.
Long thought about retiring in 2008, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to coach at Spring Valley, which had a talented group of players – including Asia Dozier, Brianna Robinson and Xylina McDaniel.
The Vikings won a state title in Long’s first season and then went undefeated to win the 2011 championship. That squad was ranked No. 2 by MaxPreps and No. 7 in USA Today’s poll.
Long posted an 851-198 career record that included stops at Wilson, Boiling Springs, Union, Lower Richland, Dutch Fork and Spring Valley. She appeared in 13 state championship games and won eight state titles, including four at Spring Valley in her eight seasons guiding the Vikings – including the Class 4A state championship this year.
Long’s departure leaves the Midlands without two of its legendary girls basketball coaches. Last week, Lower Richland’s Debbie Stroman stepped down to become the school’s athletics director. Long and Stroman have combined to win 15 state championships.
Long’s eight titles tied Ridge Spring-Monetta’s George Sawyer for most in state history for girls basketball. Her 851 wins are second behind former Manning coach John Thames’ record of 869.
“She is an outstanding person as well as coach. Coach Long is an ambassador for basketball in South Carolina and she brought notoriety to Spring Valley basketball. She will be missed and we wish her well in her next adventure,” said Spring Valley athletics director Tim Hunter, adding a search for Long’s successor will begin immediately.
Long was a talented athlete at Newberry High, and she played basketball, softball and field hockey at Winthrop. She credits getting involved in sports from her mother, who won a state title at Silverstreet High and her two brothers.
After college, Long landed her first job at Wilson High in Florence. She coached multiple sports, including basketball where she coached Pearl Moore, who went on to become the leading scorer in women’s college basketball history. Moore later joined Long on her staff at Union and was part of two of the four state championships there.
Anne Long’s coaching career
Record: 851-198
Years: 41
Schools: Wilson, Boiling Springs, Union, Lower Richland, Dutch Fork, Spring Valley
State title appearances: 13
State championships: 8 (Union 1984-85, 1988-89; Spring Valley 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016)
Top players: Pearl Moore (Wilson), Asia Dozier (Spring Valley), Xylina McDaniel (Spring Valley), Marlene Jeter (Union), Elnora Dean (Union), Cierra Carter (Spring Valley), Savonia Bryan (Spring Valley), Sharlene Byrd (Wilson), Cassandra Bishop (Wilson), Christian Hithe (Spring Valley)
Honors: S.C. Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2011) and S.C. Coaches Hall of Fame (2012). Head Coach in McDonald’s All-American Game (2012).
This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Spring Valley basketball coach Anne Long stepping down."