BRONX, NY – With the fall semester just around the corner, softball head coach Melissa Inouye announced on Tuesday the addition of Jake Long to its staff for the upcoming season.

Long comes up the coast to The Bronx from Gainesville, Florida, where he spent the past two seasons as a Graduate Assistant with the Florida Softball program. During his time in the Sunshine State, he helped the Gators to an overall record of 92-37, winning the SEC Championship in 2024 en route to a WCWS Semifinals appearance.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Jake to Fordham, our softball Ramily and coaching staff,” said Coach Inouye. “His previous coaching experience with high school, travel ball and collegiate student-athletes will be beneficial to our team, and his experience in Florida the past two years, including at the Women’s College World Series, has allowed him to mentor and be mentored by some of the best in the country and is ready for this next step in his coaching career.”

In a historic 2024 campaign, Florida would go on to a 54-15 overall record, including a 17-7 mark in SEC play. After claiming the program’s sixth SEC crown, the Gators would make an impressive run to the College World Series, taking three-time reigning national champion Oklahoma to extra innings, but would fall to the Sooners in the WCWS semifinals.

Long’s tenure with the Gators followed a three-year stint as both a high school and travel ball coach, coaching players ages 13-18 in those two roles on the offensive and defensive end, while also assisting his athletes with their recruiting processes. He coached a championship team at the U-14 Top Gun Maverick Invitational, and Long’s role as an assistant coach at the high school saw his team reach the state championship in each of his two years with the team.

“As soon as I stepped on campus and met everyone, I knew Fordham was where I wanted to be,” Long said. “I want to thank Coach Inouye and Coach Swinehart for this opportunity and for welcoming me to Ramily with open arms. I look forward to starting with the team this fall.”

Long, a four-year college player at Regis University in Colorado, would go on to make the All-RMAC Honor Roll in multiple semesters en route to earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Marketing in 2016. Last spring, Long completed his Masters of Science in Sports Management in Florida.

“Coach Jake is committed to encouraging a culture of teamwork, excellence and personal growth as we continue to succeed and compete for Atlantic 10 championships,” said Coach Inouye. “Our student-athletes will enjoy his easy-going personality and we look forward to him working with our infield and helping the hitters.”

Inouye and the Rams are coming off a 2024 season in which her team recorded the third-most doubles of any team in program history with 92, the sixth-most of any team in the country. Sydney wells would lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in RBIs per game with an equal 1.00 per game, while ranking second in the league in Home Runs per game.