Former Northwestern Player Named Head Coach at Houston Christian

Darren Long takes over struggling women's basketball program in his hometown

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Darren Long, a former player for the Northwestern Wildcats during the Carmody era, has been named the new head coach of the women's basketball team at Houston Christian University. Long inherits a program that has struggled in recent years, but he is no stranger to rebuilding projects, having previously turned around a Division III program.

Why it matters

Long's hiring represents a homecoming of sorts, as he is a Houston native taking over a program in his hometown that is looking to turn things around. His experience rebuilding a struggling program at the Division III level suggests he may be able to apply those lessons to reviving the Houston Christian women's basketball team.

The details

Darren Long played for the Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team during the Carmody coaching era. After his playing career, he went on to become a successful head coach at the Division III level, where he led a program turnaround at his previous school. Now, Long has been tasked with reviving the women's basketball program at Houston Christian University, which has struggled in recent years.

  • Darren Long was named the new head coach of the Houston Christian women's basketball team on March 1, 2026.
  • Long previously served as the head coach of a Division III program, where he led a rebuilding effort from 2019 to 2025.

The players

Darren Long

A former player for the Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team during the Carmody era, Long has been named the new head coach of the women's basketball team at Houston Christian University.

Carmody

The former head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team, during which time Darren Long played for the team.

Houston Christian University

The Division I university in Houston, Texas where Darren Long has been named the new head coach of the women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“A new coach seldom climbs into a warm bed.”

— Darrell Royal (on3.com)

What’s next

Long will look to quickly implement his coaching philosophy and strategies as he aims to turn around the Houston Christian women's basketball program in his first season as head coach.

The takeaway

Darren Long's hiring as the new head coach of the Houston Christian women's basketball team represents an opportunity for a former Northwestern player to return to his hometown and apply the lessons he learned from rebuilding a struggling Division III program to reviving a Division I team in need of a turnaround.