Long and Sevall combined to make Columbia River basketball history with three decades of coaching together

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

David Long is enjoying his retirement in Arizona, but he certainly misses the Northwest.

With so many family members and friends in Washington, he visits often.

Last week, he had a special reason to return to the region.

David Long and Jim Sevall, longtime coaches with the Columbia River High School basketball program, were both inducted to the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Long was the head coach for the Columbia River boys basketball program for 30 seasons, winning more than 450 games. Long was also the girls basketball head coach for two seasons.

Sevall, meanwhile, was with Long on the bench as the JV coach and assistant varsity coach for 31 of those 32 seasons. 

“It’s neat that they recognize JV coaches, assistant coaches,” Long said this week after he and his longtime friend were inducted to the hall of fame last week in Longview. “Head coaches get the glory and the grief. The wins and losses go on my side, but he had a lot to do with those as well.”

Because the banquet was held in Longview, there were many in the basketball community from Kelso and Longview.

“It was neat to see those people again under less competitive circumstances,” Long said. 

Plus there were a number of former players and parents of players who joined the Columbia River celebration.

“It was a really special night,” Long said.

Rex Stanely of Napavine High School was also inducted as a head coach. Steve Kloke of Mark Morris joined Sevall as assistants who were inducted.

“You don’t start out to win awards,” Long said. “You just try to win games. The years add up. The wins add up.”

Long said he was fortunate to be at a place that had such great support, from the school and from parents.

“I had really good administrators at Columbia River. They were very supportive of athletes, and all student activities.”

He also said he has heard horror stories from other coaches about overbearing parents.

“I’m not saying I didn’t get an email or two, but some of my best friends that I still have, their kids played for me, and we met because their kids played for me,” Long said.

Plus, of course, the players. Long said coaching only goes so far. A coach needs talented players to win. He had that at Columbia River.

Long retired after the 2022 season. Clark County Today posted a three-part series on a head coach who spent 30 seasons at one post – almost unheard of nowadays. To read part one, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/reflecting-on-a-coaching-career-part-1-david-long-set-to-retire-reflects-on-his-career-at-columbia-river/

Interestingly, Sevall is still coaching. He remains an assistant with Columbia River basketball, plus he coaches tennis at the school.

These days Long and his wife are living in Goodyear, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix. They have grandchildren just a few miles away from their home on a golf course. Long was also a golf coach at Columbia River.

He acknowledged he gets bored from time to time, not being a head coach. But there are benefits to the downtime, too.

“I’ve been to a few high school games. I sit in the bleachers and watch,” Long said. “I don’t have to make any decisions.”