John Long, Jr.

Biography

John Long, Jr., enters his fifth season on Indiana head swimming coach Ray Looze’s staff in 2023-24. Long currently serves as associate head coach. During his time at IU, the men’s team has won two Big Ten Championships, while the women have finished top-three all four seasons. At eight conference meets, Indiana has produced the Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships in five of those – including all four of the men’s championships. IU swimmers have combined for 42 conference titles over the last four seasons. Long has helped the program maintain its powerhouse status – Over the last five years, only four men’s programs have consistently finished top six nationally: Cal, Texas, Florida and the Indiana Hoosiers. The women’s program has surged into national prominence as well, capturing program record seventh place finishes in 2016 and 2023. In 2023, Brendan Burns won his second NCAA Championship in as many years, this time in the 100-yard backstroke with a program record 43.61 time. The year before, Burns became the first Hoosier to win the 200-yard butterfly since Gary Hall in 1973, setting another program best 1:38.71. Fifth-year senior Van Mathias garnered attention for his final-season transformation in 2023. Prior to 2023, Mathias had never finished higher than 26th individually at the national meet. Mathias posted dramatic drops in the 50 free (20.05 to 18.89), 100 free (43.70 to 41.33) and 100 breast (54.74 to 50.57) over the year and ended his season as IU’s No. 2 swimmin