CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State University introduced Roxanne Long as it's new head women's basketball coach at a press conference on RSU's Claremore campus on Monday.

Long, who has served as the head women's basketball coach at Texas Lutheran University for the past four years, becomes the second head coach over the RSU women's basketball program. She replaces Amy Williams who spent five years at the helm of the Hillcat women's basketball program and left RSU to become the head coach at the University of South Dakota, a NCAA Division I program.

"I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to coach this first class program," Long said. "I am looking forward to continuing to build a culture of excellence at Rogers State."   

Long revived a women's basketball program at TLU that went 1-49 in the two years prior to her appointment. In her first season with the Bulldogs, the team registered a 7-18 record, marking the 11th-best turn-around in NCAA Division III in 2008-2009. One season later, her team posted its first winning record in school history as a member of the American Southwest Conference. She was named ASC Co-Coach of the Year in 2009 and produced the best winning percentage of any TLU women's basketball coach in the NCAA Division III era.

"We are thrilled to announce Roxanne Long as the new head women's basketball coach at Rogers State," Director of Athletics Ryan Bradley said. "Coach Long possesses every quality we look for in a head coach. She's a proven winner as both a standout player and a coach. She's smart, tough, caring, and she devotes herself to ensuring that her student-athletes succeed on the court and in the classroom. I have no doubt that Coach Long will continue to build upon the strong foundation that has been established with Hillcat women's basketball."

Prior to her stint at TLU, Long spent eight years as a varsity head coach at the high school ranks in Texas. She spent five years (2003-2008) at Central High School in Keller, Texas where she was a Texas Basketball Coaches finalist for the State of Texas Coach of the Year. She was named district Coach of the Year in 2007. The team reached the postseason on three occasions and enjoyed two 20-win seasons. From 2000-2003, Long was the varsity head coach at Diamond Hill High School in Fort Worth, Texas where she turned a 0-25 program around and led the team to its first playoff appearance. She was also named district coach of the year.

Long is no stranger to the state of Oklahoma. She ignited her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oral Roberts University under Jerry Finkbeiner from 1998-2000. While she was on the bench with the Golden Eagles the team won a conference championship and garnered a NCAA Tournament berth.      

Long spent five years (1993-1998) at the University of Oklahoma as a shooting guard. She was a three-year starter for the Sooners and the team captain during her junior and senior campaigns. She ranks in the top-10 in the OU record book in minutes played and 3-point field goals made. She received the Conference Medal Award, the Sooners' Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year and the Jay Myer Award.

Long excelled not only on the court, but also in the classroom as she was named First Team Academic All Big 8 and Academic All Big 12.  

Long earned a master's degree in education from Oral Roberts University and received her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Oklahoma. She graduated from Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, Ore. where she was the salutatorian of her high school graduating class. Long was an All-State basketball selection in Oregon and was selected as the conference MVP in high school.

Long comes from a strong coaching family. She is the daughter of Rocky Long, head football coach at San Diego State University. Her sister Hannah serves as the women's volleyball coach at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

From Sherri Coale, Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Oklahoma: "Roxanne Long is a tremendous competitor.  As a collegiate player, she welcomed challenges, meeting all with a relentless work ethic and a steely determination.  I am certain that those same traits will be evident from her on the sideline and from her team on the floor at Rogers State."