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It’s the end of an era in Suffolk County.
Paul Longo, the longtime football coach who led William Floyd to five Long Island championships and 15 Division I titles over 31 seasons, has handed in his playbook.
“It was a super hard decision because I love the students at William Floyd,” Longo told Greater Long Island. “I just think it was time to let my coaches, who have worked so hard and dedicated so much time to this program, have a shot at being the new head coach.”
The 68-year-old departs as the winningest coach in Suffolk County history, finishing with a 253-67 record that included a remarkable 42-game winning streak from 2005 to 2008. Under Longo, the Colonials won the Rutgers Trophy — awarded to the most outstanding team on Long Island — three times and posted 27 winning seasons after he took over the program in 1995.
Among his many achievements, William Floyd became the first team to win three straight Long Island titles and earned a top-20 national ranking from Sports Illustrated in 2007. Longo also coached three Hansen Award winners — Brock Jackolski in 2007, Stacey Bedell in 2011, and this season’s recipient, Ja’Quan Thomas — honoring Suffolk County’s most outstanding player. He also earned Coach of the Year honors this season.
When asked to reflect on his favorite memory from three decades on the sidelines, Longo didn’t hesitate.
“I think upsetting the great 2010 Sachem North team in the county finals,” he said. “We had such a young team that year, and we lost to them 40-7 during the regular season, so that was big.”
While Longo is saying goodbye to William Floyd, he isn’t ready to use the word retirement just yet. He told GLI that another chapter could still be ahead — if the right opportunity presents itself.
Top: Coach Paul Longo (left) courtesy of William Floyd School District. The photo first appeared in this Greater Long Island article.
