Former Boilermaker returns
in coaching role
By Danielle Mitchell
Staff
Writer
Former Purdue high jumper Carri Long is making
a return to track and field as a member of the Boilermaker coaching
staff.
"There was never really a set time that I said
that I wanted to be a college track coach," said Long.
Before realizing that she wanted to coach at the
college level, Long thought she wanted to be a high school coach.
"I volunteered at the Purdue track athletics office,
traveled on recruiting visits and I really liked it," said Long, who
was named an assistant Sept. 21 by Lissa Olson, coach of the entire
track program.
Long won't officially move into her position until
December when she completes her master's degree.
Long was disappointed with her high-jumping results
at Purdue in her first two years, but by placing in the top eight at
the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships in her junior and senior years,
Long earned status as an All-American four times.
"It took too long to get there," said Long, who
ended her collegiate career after the 1999-2000 season.
Also in 1999, the women's track team placed first
in the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and Long helped
by winning the Big Ten high jump title.
"It was really exciting winning All-American, but
it was more exciting winning a team level championship," Long said.
Now that Long is in a coaching position, some of
her views on the sport have changed.
"Coaching is the next step up from competing,"
Long said. "As an individual competitor it is more of what to do to
better yourself. But as a coach, you look for ways to better the team."
Long still trains with the Purdue athletes and
wants to try out for the 2004 Olympic team, but she said that it's strange
going from being an athlete to a coach.
"It's a big role change," Long said. "In some ways
it's the same, but in some ways it's different."
Purdue junior high jumper Carrie Long, who has
worked with Carri for three years, said their relationship hasn't changed
much, despite the fact that Carri's her coach instead of her teammate.
"It is kind of the same because she has always
been like a second coach to me," Carrie said.
Carri knows some of the athletes on a teammate
level, which enables her to relate to the team in a different way than
most coaches.
"I think that I bridge the age gap between the
athletes and the coaches," Carri said.
As a new member of the coaching staff, Long said
she's looking forward to the new experiences.
"I really want to learn from the other members
of the coaching staff," Long said.
Along with learning new things about coaching,
Long has brought many positive aspects to the track and field coaching
staff.
Olson said Long knows what it takes to win and
be competitive.
"Carri exemplifies every characteristic that we
want our athletes to have," Olson said. "She completes the whole coaching
staff and she knows what it takes, not only as an individual, but as
a team as well."
Carrie described Carri, who has won several academic
scholarships, as a positive role model, especially for the female athletes.
"I want to do better when I am around her," Carrie
said. "She is always encouraging."
With her whole coaching career ahead of her, Carri,
who has competed overseas several times, has many goals for herself
and the team.
"I want to bring a motivational factor to the team,"
Carri said. "I want to show the athletes while working along with them
that it is possible to achieve higher goals than just college level
competition."
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