KEVIN LONG NAMED METS HITTING COACH
Dustin Clarke Named Strength & Conditioning Coach
FLUSHING, N.Y., October 23, 2014 – The New York Mets today announced the club has named Kevin Long the team’s new hitting coach. The club also tabbed Dustin Clarke, their new Major League Strength and Conditioning Coach.
“Kevin’s experience, success and wealth of knowledge make him the perfect fit as our hitting instructor,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. “This is a very positive step for the Mets. We welcome Kevin, and his wife, Marcey, to the Mets family.”
“I’m excited to get the opportunity to work with a team that I think is on the rise,” said Long. “I had a great meeting with Sandy and Terry yesterday and I can’t wait to get started and help in any way I can.”
Long, 47, had spent the previous eight seasons (2007-2014) as the Yankees hitting coach. Under his guidance, the Yankees led the majors in runs scored three times and finished second twice. Before he joined the major league team, Long served as the Yankees’ Triple-A hitting coach with Columbus of the International League for three years (2004-2006).
Prior to joining the Yankees, Long was the hitting coach for the Triple-A Omaha Royals from 2002-2003 and the Double-A Wichita Wranglers’ from 2000-2001. Long was named the Northwest League Manager of the Year after leading Spokane to the title in 1998. He began his coaching career with Wilmington in the Carolina League in 1997.
Long was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 in 1989 at the University of Arizona. The outfielder was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 31st round of the 1989 First-Year Player Draft and played eight years (1989-1996) in Kansas City’s minor league system reaching, Triple-A.
Clarke was the Strength and Conditioning Coach with Las Vegas (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League last season. He had served in the same capacity with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League from 2012-2013 and with the Gulf Coast Mets in 2011. He previously had worked with the University of Michigan football team, along with strength and conditioning programs at Lafayette College and Drexel University. Clarke received his Masters in Exercise Science from East Stroudsburg University (PA) after earning a B.S. in Exercise Science from the same institution.
