Athletic Trainer, 1971-88

Johnny Long served as athletic trainer at North Alabama from 1971-88 and helped play an instrumental role in the success of the Lion  athletic program for two decades. A native of Moulton, Ala., Long  graduated from UNA in 1972 with a B.S. degree in physical education, and he also received his Master's degree from UNA in 1974.

He served as head trainer at UNA with five different head football coaches and four different head men's basketball coaches, while also serving on the staff of the Blue-Gray Classic in Montgomery for a decade.  Long was elevated to the position of Assistant to the Athletic Director at UNA from 1988-89 and he served on the Health, Physical Education and Recreation  faculty at UNA at the time of his induction. His work with the daily care of Lion athletes helped pave the way for UNA's 21 Gulf South Conference championships during his tenure as trainer.

"Johnny doesn't have a won-loss record at UNA, but he has been at all the peaks and valleys of the program," said former UNA Athletic Director Bill Jones. "He's seen it all and he's been a driving force for the athletic program here. He performed the type of duties that often go overlooked, but he is the man that kept  our student-athletes ready to play. He was part of the glue that helped hold our athletic department together for a long time."