ASHLAND — Ashland High School’s tennis coach won an Ohio High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award for the 2022-23 season.
Taylor Long, 33 — a 2008 Ashland High School graduate — said he is flattered to have received the honor.
Coaches selected “reflect the values of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity through their professional responsibilities and are role models for student-athletes and others,” read an OHSSA press release.
“Knowing I was nominated by peers and my fellow coaches that I’ve gotten along with the last 5 years. You know, for these other coaches to say nice things about me and then be given this award, it’s a really cool honor,” Long said.
Ashland City Schools Athletic Director Jason Goings said Long is admirable.
“His commitment to our tennis program is awesome,” Goings said. “The relationships he builds with our families, and he does this year round.”
Goings said Long also works with youth in a summer tennis program at Brookside Park.
“He’s present. We’re very, very fortunate that he’s leading our tennis programs,” Goings said.
Long graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2012 after a successful career on its tennis team. Upon graduating, Long landed a social studies teaching job at Mapleton Middle School.
He then started volunteering on the Ashland High School tennis team, which led him to an assistant coaching gig and eventually the head coach position in 2018.
“Growing up, we lived close to Ashland University,” he said. “I remember being in elementary school and my parents walking us up to the courts. That’s where I learned to play. That was third or fourth grade.”
