‘He’d do anything for us’: Panthers’ Long leaves behind legacy of more than just winning

VANDALIA, Ill. — A tear never visibly rolled down Matt Long’s face, but the makings of one welled up in his eyes when he was asked about his 32 seasons as the Camp Point Central and Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach.

“I think it’s uncommon these days that people are patient enough to give you that much time to do what we did,” Long said. “I’m very humbled, very appreciative of my time there, and I have nothing but good things to say about the years I’ve spent there.”

Even though the Panthers’ 58-41 loss to Nashville in Monday’s Class 2A Vandalia Super-Sectional marked the end of a Hall of Fame career, Long quickly passed the spotlight to his players.

“Tonight’s about my kids,” Long said. “I want to make sure my kids are OK.”

Those players won sectional championships in Long’s final two seasons before bowing out to Nashville both times.

“It hasn’t hit me yet that I’ll never wear a CSE jersey or play for Coach Long again,” said CSE senior forward Lauren Miller, who scored 21 points in her final career game. “I’ve learned so much from him. I like to think that he’s learned some from us, too. He’s been a great mentor, great role model. He’s just a great person, and we know that he’d do anything for us, always trying to make us better people, not just better basketball players.

“He’s pushed us to our limits. I’ve been super blessed to have him these last four years.”

Long, who decided before the season that this would be his last, won 641 games, 15 regional titles — including one in each of the last three seasons — and five sectional championships with the Panthers. He guided CSE to back-to-back final fours in 2016 and 2017, where the Panthers finished third and fourth, respectively. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

Senior guard Karly Peters said the end of her CSE basketball career is not the end of her connection with Long.

“I’m so thankful I’ve been able to play under him,” Peters said. “He’s a great coach. Any of us players, from the past, too, could say that. He’s made such an impact in more than basketball on everybody he’s coached. He’s a great person. I’m going to stay connected with him, and hopefully he enjoys retirement.”

As for what lies ahead in retirement, Long has not thought that far ahead yet.

“We’ll take some time when this is all over with, sit down and, for lack of a better word, get a new game plan together,” Long said.

And as for a retirement party, Miller said that will come in due time.

“He’s not big into all the attention, so we might have to surprise him with one or show up at his house,” Miller said. 

Whatever the celebration is, it will be well-deserved.

“He’s touched so many people’s lives, and that’s what we hope to do — inspire kids, inspire the next generation,” Miller said. “I hope we did that.”