Induction Sport Role

2021 Baseball | Football Coach

Mel graduated class valedictorian from Sandy Valley High School in 1961.  He originally pursued an engineering degree at The Ohio State University then transferred to Ken State University, where he earned a B.S. in Education; he later earned an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Malone University.  Mr. Long taught biology at Hoover High School for 32 years.  His coaching experiences at Hoover include 27 years of 9th grade Football, several years of junior high Basketball, and 29 combined years of Baseball at the junior varsity and varsity levels.  During his 19 years as head varsity Baseball coach (1985-2004), his record was 270-160.  Mel’s peak coaching experience was coaching the 1992 State Runner-Up team to a 23-8 season.  He also coached the 1999 team to the state finals with a 25-6 season, which was the most wins ever by a North Canton team.  Coach Long had the most baseball coaching wins at Hoover High School.  During his earlier years, Mel played 11 years in the Class A Amateur Baseball league.  Mel was inducted into the Greater Stark County Amateur Baseball hall of Fame in 1985 and the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016.  For several summers, Mel worked at the Louisville Recreation Department.  While teaching and after retirement, he was a supervisor at the Pro Football Hall of Fame (for nearly 20 years) and supervised student teachers for Malone University.  Mel was also an active member of the North Canton YMCA.  Mel had an amazing work ethic and was whole-heartedly dedicated to each and every vocation he pursued.  He taught his students and players valuable life lessons, always leading by example.  When former students and players approached Mr. Long in public to share fond memories, he remembered each of them by name, even after their graduation from Hoover High School.  Above all, Mel Long was a gentleman.  He was consistently honest and fair; he treated everyone with respect on and off the field and in and out of the classroom.  In turn, he was highly respected and admired by all who knew him.  The North Canton community mourned as Mel passed away in 2015, but the legacy of excellence and his passion for others will not be forgotten.