Notre Dame HS Track Coach Ryan Long receives Coach of the Year
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Ryan Long, head coach of the Notre Dame track and field team, has been named the 2023-2024 NFHS/MSHSAA State Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.
The award, presented by the Missouri State High School Activities Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations, recognizes Long’s lifelong commitment to coaching ideals.
Long, a 2011 Notre Dame graduate, was surprised with the award at a pep assembly. “I was absolutely surprised,” he said. “The award has never even crossed my mind as a possibility to win.”
Notre Dame Athletic Director Jeff Graviett praised Long’s passion for the sport and his athletes. “Ryan puts his heart and soul into the Notre Dame track and field program,” Graviett said. “His passion for young people and track doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Long emphasized that the award recognizes the team’s growth and success. “To me, being coach of the year means that our program is growing and headed in a positive direction,” he said.
Long’s coaching philosophy prioritizes faith, family, and character development. “I want my athletes to learn work ethic, patience, determination, how to handle failure, and how to stay humble,” he said. “Most importantly, I want them to know how to let God lead their lives.”
The team’s emphasis on faith has had a lasting impact on athletes like Emma Duenne, a 2024 graduate. “Track has been, without a doubt, the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said. “It truly transformed me as a person.”
Long has also been named the Section 5 Girls Track Coach of the Year, covering a six-state region, and is now nominated for Regional Coach of the Year at the national level.
