Long Becomes Beavers' First Full-Time Head Coach; Lauren Abdow '23 Returns to Babson as an Assistant Coach

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College senior associate director of athletics Jon Anderson '75 announced the hiring of Jack Long '15 MSF'18 as the new full-time head men's and women's alpine ski coach at Babson College on Wednesday morning. 

Long, who served as an assistant coach for the Beavers in 2023, replaces longtime head coach Joe Harty, who retired after four stints as the head coach of the men's and women's alpine ski programs dating back to 1987.

"Jack has being an immense help in elevating our ski program in his role as a part-time assistant coach over the last year," commented Anderson.  "With his enthusiasm and energy he has consistently performed beyond my expectations.  As we move ahead with Jack as our first full-time head coach, he is the perfect individual to move the men's and women's ski programs ahead.  I am thrilled he has taken on this exciting opportunity."

As an assistant coach last winter, Long helped the Babson women capture their first MacConnell Division regular season title since 1992 to go along with a first-place finish in the combined standings at the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) Eastern Regional Championships. Not to be outdone, the Babson men finished second in both the MacConnell Division standings and at the eastern regionals to qualify to earn their 15th straight USCSA National Championships appearance. 

"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to lead such an outstanding group of student-athletes," said Long. "Babson skiing has been growing more competitive every year under the leadership of Joe Harty, Sam Bensley, Chris Jacobs, and John Dewit and I look forward to continuing their tradition of excellence. 

"As a former Babson student-athlete and assistant coach, it is a great honor to join the athletics department as a head coach. As I look forward to the future of the program, I hope to continue raising the level of competition for our program. We are returning very strong men's and women's teams this season and I believe that the hard work the student-athletes are now putting in will pay off in consistent strong results this coming year.

"I have learned over the past decade of involvement with Babson skiing that it takes a whole community to put forth a strong team. I therefore would like to thank the athletics staff, training staff, alumni, parents, and supporters for putting the program in a strong position to move forward."

Long, who was unable to compete for the Beavers as an undergraduate due to concussions, served as a student manager from 2012-15. He was an assistant coach in 2016 as the Babson women placed a program-best fourth at USCSA nationals and again in 2019 when both squads posted top-10 finishes at nationals for the fourth consecutive season. 

Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Long worked as a US Telemark race official from 2016-22. He served as a board member and East Coast Events Director for US Telemark during this time and also was the Chief of Race for the FIS Telemark World Cup in 2018. 

Long, who earned his undergraduate degree in 2015 and a master's of science in finance from Babson in 2018, founded Volos Portfolio Solutions in 2014 and has held multiple roles with Crowninshield Financial since 2018.

In addition to the hiring of Long as the program's first full-time head coach, recent Babson graduate Lauren Abdow '23 will join his staff as an assistant coach following a highly-decorated career on the slopes for the Beavers. 

The 2023 MacConnell Division Skier of the Year after recording four victories and nine podium finishes in 10 races, Abdow posted top-four results in the slalom, giant slalom and combined standings as Babson secured its first USCSA Eastern Regional Championships title in school history last winter. She earned USCSA All-America honors in the slalom in 2020 and giant slalom in 2022 and is a three-time All-MacConnell Division honoree.