San Diego State Not Waiting 'Long' to Replace Brady Hoke

by Tom KrasovicFiled under: San Diego State, CoachingSAN DIEGO -- Weep not for San Diego State. Brady Hoke is Michigan's gain, as we'll explain later, but athletic director Jim Sterk has moved quickly to blunt the loss of the coach who three weeks ago guided SDSU to its first bowl victory since 1969. Hoke's defensive coordinator, Rocky Long (right), will be announced Wednesday as San Diego State's new football coach. Long's contract will run several years, a message to potential recruits that Long is here to stay at Marshall Faulk U. "It should be a seamless transition," said high school coach John Carroll, a Long admirer whose powerful Oceanside Pirates sent five players to SDSU a year ago, and count Junior Seau among their alums. Beyond his defensive prowess, Long was a lead recruiter for an aggressive Aztecs staff that has made inroads in California the past two years. He also was a defensive coordinator at UCLA, Oregon State and Wyoming. "...