COMMERCE – East Texas A&M University has announced the hiring of Rodney DeLong as the fourth head softball coach in school history on Wednesday afternoon.
 
An 11-year head coaching veteran, DeLong has amassed 376 career wins as a head coach, including 271 as a Division I head coach at North Texas and Austin Peay. He has led his team to three conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. His career winning percentage of .653 ranks 40th among all active Division I coaches.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Rodney DeLong as the new head coach for East Texas A&M softball. He is a transformative leader and proven winner who has built championship programs throughout his career," said Director of Athletics Jim Curry.
 
"There are few coaches who have demonstrated the level of immediate impact and sustained excellence exemplified by Coach DeLong, and we are excited for the future of Northeast Texas' only Division I softball program under his direction and leadership."
 
In each of his three prior head coaching stints, DeLong has won 31 or more games in his first season at the helm, while having set the single season record for most wins and advancing to the postseason at all three stops.
 
He takes over a Lion softball program that has amassed eight winning seasons in its 12-year history, won 30 or more games in six seasons, played in the NCAA Tournament five times, and won one conference tournament championship.
 
"I'm incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity that athletics director Jim Curry and president Mark Rudin have given me to lead the softball program at East Texas A&M University," said DeLong. "Throughout my career I've taken pride in building competitive, winning cultures and helping programs take the next step forward. My focus is creating an environment where student-athletes can thrive both on and off the field."
 
"I return to coaching energized, motivated, and ready to lead again. East Texas A&M is a place with tremendous potential and I'm excited to get to work building a program our players, alumni, and community can be proud of."
 
In his 11 years as a head coach, DeLong's teams have won 31 or more games in all seasons outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 season when the Mean Green were off to a 19-5 start. Individually, he has mentored 46 all-conference selections, 17 all-region selections, and two All-Americans.
 
DeLong most recently spent seven seasons as the head coach at North Texas, winning two conference regular season championships and the Conference USA Tournament in 2022, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
 
During his time as the skipper in Denton, he amassed a record of 232-119 and is the winningest coach in program history. He also managed the most wins in a single season during the 2021 campaign, was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year twice, and recorded nine wins over ranked opponents, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Nebraska, and twice each against Louisiana and Florida Atlantic. DeLong holds a career record of 27-7 against current Southland Conference schools.
 
Before taking over as the head coach at North Texas, DeLong spent one season at Austin Peay, going 39-19-1 overall and 17-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, advancing to the National Invitational Softball Championship in 2018. It was the program's first winning season in 24 years, and the 39 wins are the program record for most wins in a season.
 
He began his collegiate head coaching career at Cameron in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Aggies made it to the postseason in two of the three seasons with DeLong in charge, including a 41-18 record in 2015, which is the program record for most wins.
 
In between his head coaching stints at Cameron and Austin Peay, he was the assistant coach at Georgia Tech in 2017. DeLong was tasked with instructing the hitters and the infielders. The Yellow Jackets showed improvement in 11 different offensive categories, while being top 20 in the country in home runs and top 60 in double plays per game.
 
DeLong holds a 211-64 record as a high school softball coach prior to being named the head coach at Cameron. He won the 2013 state championship at Cache High School in Oklahoma, while winning four regional championships and five district championships.
 
A two-year letter winner on the baseball team at Cameron, DeLong played shortstop, appearing in 79 games. He started his collegiate baseball career at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa.
 
The Lawton, Oklahoma native graduated from Cameron in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in history before receiving his Masters of Education in sports administration at East Central in 2013.
 
More information about a meet and greet event with coach DeLong will be shared at a later date. Lion fans can place their season ticket deposits for the 2027 season HERE.
 
THE DELONG FILE
2026-Present – East Texas A&M, Head Coach
2019-2025 – North Texas, Head Coach
2018 – Austin Peay, Head Coach
2017 – Georgia Tech, Assistant Coach
2014-16 – Cameron, Head Coach
2012-13 – Cache High School (Oklahoma), Head Coach
2011 – Lawton MacArthur High School (Oklahoma), Head Coach
2008-10 – Cache High School (Oklahoma), Head Coach
 
HEAD COACHING RECORD
Cameron – 105-62 (Three seasons)
Austin Peay – 39-19-1 (One season)
North Texas – 232-119 (Seven seasons)
Total – 376-200-1 (.653)
Division I – 271-138-1 (.662)
 

Year	School	Overall	Conference	Notes
2014	Cameron	31-23	15-12 (LSC)	NCAA Tournament participant
2015	Cameron	41-18	16-12 (LSC)	NCAA Tournament participant, most single season wins in program history
2016	Cameron	33-21	18-14 (LSC)
2018	Austin Peay	39-19-1	17-4 (OVC)	National Invitational Softball Championship participant, most single season wins in program history
2019	North Texas	35-19	19-5 (CUSA)	Conference USA Regular Season champions
2020	North Texas	19-5	2-1 (CUSA)
2021	North Texas	38-12	18-2 (CUSA)	Conference USA Regular Season champions, most single-season wins in program history
2022	North Texas	37-16	17-7 (CUSA)	Conference USA Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament participant
2023	North Texas	35-22	16-8 (CUSA)	Conference USA Tournament Finalist
2024	North Texas	32-24	17-10 (AAC)
2025	North Texas	36-21	16-11 (AAC)	American Tournament Finalist

 
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
"I've known Rodney for a long time and have always enjoyed competing against his teams. He has won at every stop and I expect him to do the same at East Texas A&M."
- Kenny Gajewski, Head Softball Coach, Oklahoma State
 
"Rodney DeLong is an outstanding choice to lead the East Texas A&M softball program. I had the opportunity to hire Rodney at Austin Peay, and I saw firsthand his ability to turn a program around through his ability to build relationships, develop student-athletes, and create a winning culture. Having been part of starting the softball program at East Texas A&M myself, I understand how meaningful this opportunity is and how much potential exists there. Rodney's leadership, competitiveness, and familiarity with Northeast Texas make him the right person to guide the program forward. East Texas A&M is gaining a proven coach and an exceptional leader."
- Ryan Ivey, Vice President and Director of Athletics, Louisiana Tech
 
"Rodney DeLong has consistently built programs that have won everywhere he has coached; Austin Peay and North Texas. He has been a solid recruiter and skilled player developer."
- Kevin Shelton, Leader, Texas Glory Fast-Pitch Softball Club