University of Richmond Athletics
Hall Of Famer Bill Long Dies At 92
11/27/2014 | General
The University of Richmond is mourning the passing of Athletics Hall of Famer Bill Long, who played football for the Spiders from 1946-1949, and became a legendary coach, teacher and administrator at nearby Douglas Freeman High School for 35 years. Mr. Long died Friday Nov. 21 at 92 after a lengthy illness.
He stepped foot on the Richmond campus in the fall of 1940, but before the end of his first semester, he found himself marching in the U.S. Army. He served his country in World War II, rising to the rank of 1st Sergeant. Undaunted, following an honorable discharge in 1945, he returned home and re-enrolled at Richmond in 1946, joining the Spider football team. He played from 1946-49. In his senior season, he played strong side end in an unbalanced line in a single-wing style attack.
In 1954, he accepted a position at Douglas Freeman High School, just three miles from the UR campus. He was athletic director, and coached the football, basketball and track teams. He was 109-36-9 as football coach, including a state title in 1967. His basketball teams won nearly 60 percent of their games, and his track squads were victorious in 90 percent of their dual meets and won eleven consecutive district championships. Following his retirement as a coach, he remained at Freeman as an Assistant Principal, also spending time back at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach for the Spider football team. Additionally, he was a leading track & field coach, official and authority in the U.S. during his career.
Among his long list of honors, Mr. Long was inducted into the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame in 1992 and he received the Richmond Touchdown Club's Bunkie Trinite Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. In October 2008, Douglas Freeman High School announced the creation of its own Athletics Hall of Fame, and named Bill Long as its first inductee.
Mr. Long is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lillian. A graveside service was held at Greenwood Memorial Park in Henrico County Tuesday Nov. 25. On Dec. 1, there will be a visitation from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Parham Road Chapel of Woody's Funeral Home. A Mass will be held at St. Bridget's Church on Dec. 2 at 11 a.m.
