Coach Theron Long was a championship basketball coach from Hernando High who had an outstanding career in athletics and school administration. Coach Long was born in Golden, MS, and attended Belmont High before joining the National Guard. He received college degrees from Northeast Junior College, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. He started his 20-year coaching career at Hernando where he led the boys and girls teams to invitational, conference, and district crowns. He coached in 1,119 high school games with his girls compiling a record of 445-124 and the boys racking up a mark of 402-148. Overall, his teams won 847 games with only 272 losses. His 1969 girls team captured the state championship. He is considered to be a top athletic and academic administrator and is recognized on national and international levels for his work as Hernando High’s principal. Theron coached in the 1968 Mississippi High School All-Star girls basketball game and received numerous Coach of the Year honors. He served on the Board of Directors of the MAC and the MHSAA on several occasions. Coach Long participated on the State Advisory Council of the Mississippi Math & Science School in Columbus.