There seems to be one at nearly every local sporting event; a fan, anywhere from loosely affiliated to a lifetime attendee, who is always at the games. No, I’m not talking about school presidents or athletic department staff; I’m not talking about an expected attendee, I’m talking about those fans, those super fans, who go out of their way to cheer for local sports in a way that makes athletes at any level know the feeling of true fan support.
For Dominican University, the mainstay in the stands is Willie Long, an athletics facilities and maintenance employee who has been almost synonymous with the Conlan Recreation Center since he was assigned duties there five years ago.
“Since the Dominican Athletics Department moved to the Conlan Rec Center at the start of this century, there has been no more dedicated, caring and passionate Athletics employee than Willie Long,” Patrick Huser, Dominican’s associate athletic director for facilities, said in a press release. “Willie is the perfect athletics team member — selfless, supportive, hard-working and here to always serve our students. Willie Long is Dominican, and Dominican is Willie Long.”
Because of his commitment — over 45 years with the institution — Long will be honored by Dominican at Friday’s PacWest basketball doubleheader against Belmont’s Notre Dame de Namur. “Willie Long Night” includes a halftime presentation from Huser and Director of Athletics Amy Henkelman during the men’s game, which is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m.
“Willie is, and has been, a part of the greater Dominican community and this Friday we are celebrating his 45th year of dedicated service, commitment, passion and love for Dominican,” Phil Billeci-Gard, associate director of athletics for internal operations said in the release. “Willie has served the entire campus relentlessly, continuously for over four decades.”
Long, a native of San Mateo, has lived in San Rafael since he was 5, and lived on-campus at Dominican his entire tenure on the job. After some back-and-forth with his father and the Dominican sisters, Long started work for then-Dominican College in 1972.
Long has worked all over the San Rafael campus, which has changed in shape and size over his time. He hopes to at least finish out 50 years with the school before considering retirement.
It was at the dining hall that Mark Caliguire, a senior and captain on the men’s soccer team, met Long.
“There’s a fairy tale that he was dropped off at the convent when he was born and taken care of by the nuns his entire life,” Caliguire said. “It’s a story that represents a Dominican ideal.”
Caliguire’s on-campus job at the dining hall gave him a chance to hear some of Long’s stories over the years.
“He’d come in just to talk with me for 30 minutes through my shift. One day he came up and said, ‘I have something for you’ and pulls out a signed baseball. ‘I just wanted you to know I appreciate you,’” Caliguire recalled. “He’s just a really nice guy. He met Muhammad Ali (and) famous baseball players. … He has acquired all sorts of knick-knacks over the years; this baseball was one of those.”
Long, who I first encountered strapped into his Ghostbusters-esque backpack leaf-blower as I walked toward Conlan, is easily recognizable. Long is known for his flowing, graying hair, wearing his regular blue work shirt, emblazoned with patches reading “Dominican University of California” and “Willie.” The day I met him, he stopped his machine, smiled and waved at me as I headed for the front entrance — a courtesy far from expected, but a gesture that immediately made me feel welcome.
“Willie is probably one of my first memories of coming to Dominican. When I was on my official visit for basketball my senior year, he was the first guy I saw, and everyone knew him,” said Carly Holboke, a senior on the women’s basketball team. “He’s always willing to chat. He’s had such an interesting life and has some really interesting stories. He’s also always willing to help sweep the gym and is one of our biggest fans.”
Holboke, who is president of both the Dominican and PacWest Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, said Long is always there for immediate help in his professional capacity, “but also with high-fives before and after the game.”
“He always tells me ‘good job,’ regardless of if we won or lost,” Holboke said. “It’s great to have him around.”
Long’s shirt is the subject of a promotion for Friday’s game, as the first 100 students, faculty and staff to arrive at the Conlan Center will receive a replica Willie work shirt. There also have been talks for brooms to be provided for some of the most vocal fans, to follow Willie’s lead of waving the cleaning device to rally the teams and fans for a sweep.
“He was already well known in the university overall when we got lucky five years ago and got him down here,” Huser said over the phone. “He became the symbol and face of the athletics department and it’s had a big impact on coaches, who he gives advice to.
“But the most impact has been on the student-athletes. They see him there at the games and his support is the most profound. For the athletic department personnel, he’s definitely the guy who keeps us upbeat and entertained. He’s our most valuable player.”
The Dominican women’s basketball team kicks off Friday’s “Willie Long Night” doubleheader at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game and halftime presentation at 7:30 p.m.
“I’m grateful for what the Conlan Rec. Center means to me,” Long said in the press release. “It’s a real team here and the people I work with are awesome. I’m very excited for Friday night.”
Long gave a sneak peak of Friday’s halftime speech over the phone on Wednesday, noting that “if it wasn’t for the students, we wouldn’t be here.”
“I’m going to thank the Dominican sisters, Father Bob (Haberman), (president) Mary Marcy, the board of trustees and the family that I work with,” Long said. “Then I’m going to sing ‘1-2-3 … take me out to the ball game …”
Mark C. Volain is the sports editor at the Marin Independent Journal. You can contact him with story ideas, corrections, issues or compliments at mvolain@marinij.com or by calling 415-382-7298. You can follow him on Twitter @MarkCVolain and “like” him on Facebook.
