Matthew Pearce is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Fountain Hills High School for AZPreps365.com

With a 95-71 record over the last five years, Fountain Hills High School volleyball head coach Olivia Long has been a leader in the program, on and off the court.

With Long moving to Oregon this month to be closer to family, she said she hopes to make one last impression on the girls to end this season.

Long moved to Payson from Oregon while she was in middle school. She said many of the girls her age were playing volleyball, so she decided to join. She immediately fell in love with the sport.

While Long was in high school, she picked up coaching through her younger sister's recreational team.

After graduating from Eastern Arizona College, Long decided to remain in education. She started teaching at Fountain Hills High School as a social studies teacher. 

“After being hired as a teacher, I was asked if I would apply for the volleyball head coach position,” Long said. “I was pretty hesitant … but I knew I always wanted to enter the coaching scene, so I didn't turn down the opportunity.”

Long’s first year was nothing to write home about, fiinishing 9-18. In spite of that, she turned the program around after the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in canceled games. Now, she has four winning seasons under her belt. 

This success did not come easily, Long said. In her first year, she was learning on the fly for the most part, which led to her focusing on building the girls' trust, on and off the court. 

Senior middle blocker Zoe Jagodzinski, who has been with the program for four years, said Long did jsut that. 

“I had so much fun playing with this team and Coach Long," Jagodzinski said. "I can’t wait to see where it goes for the rest of the girls after I graduate."

Assistant coach Marissa Flores said Long is able to connect with the girls on a deeper level through volleyball. 

“She has a way of encouraging and motivating them to be their best and to play their best,” Flores said. “She’s very supportive and encouraging to all the girls.”

Flores also mentioned the importance of Long’s focus on character development. This idea remains consistent when hearing why Long enjoys coaching.

“My favorite part of this job is getting to see the growth the girls have, as volleyball players and as people,” Long said. 

In her final season as head coach, Long said she is especially grateful for the girls, the program and the school for supporting her journey thus far.

“Fountain Hills volleyball will always have a special place in my heart,” Long said. “The girls who come through this program are so talented, but also so kind, respectful, encouraging and hard-working … They're the kind of kids that inspire hope in the younger generation.”