Dave Long

CRANBERRY TWP — For 19 years, Dave Long has been the boys basketball coach at North Catholic.

That changed Tuesday when Long was informed he would not be back for a 20th.

“I don't know if I'm angered more at the administration or at myself for being in this position in the first place,” Long said.

Long, 66, had a tumultuous final campaign on the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic bench.

He missed a game in February because of an undisclosed incident at practice that was reviewed by the administration. He was allowed to return to the bench to close out the season that ended with a 63-51 loss to Greenville in the first round of the PIAA 4A tournament.

He was told then by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh that he likely would not be back.

That was confirmed this week.

Long said the reason for his dismissal was his use of language, such as telling his players not to be “dumb a----” and calling them “little b------.”

He also said he referred to a black player on the team as “Django Unchained,” a reference to the Quentin Tarantino Western about a vengeful former slave.

“Race had nothing to do with it,” Long explained. “The player was angry about something and that movie Django Unchained just popped into my head. Django was an angry character in a movie.

“Sometimes in today's society people find or see the dark side or the bad side to things,” Long added. “People put their own spin on things.

Players and parents have an ax to grind. They had a problem with how I used language and the administration was forced to go out and act upon it.”

Long said he doesn't think his use of language warranted losing his coaching job.

He served as an assistant coach under Don Graham at the school for 18 years before taking over the head coaching job with the Trojans in 1999.

“Have you ever watched March Madness?” Long said. “You don't have to be a scientist to read lips and see some of the things those coaches and players are saying. With the exception of Sister Jean (a 98-year-old Loyola of Chicago nun), none of it is G-rated.”

Long leaves with a 325-176 record with nine section championships and four WPIAL titles.

The Trojans, who have made the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, were 13-13 this year.

CWNC athletic director Mike Burrell could not be reached for comment.

“I'm not going to defend myself anymore,” Long said. “I've always spoke from the heart and my words were twisted by people who had a personal agenda.

“Maybe there's a bigger plan for me,” Long added. “Except for Sister Jean, no one's perfect.”