IHLA 2025 Fall Conference
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Opening Keynote Session
A TRIP DOWN THE LONG ROAD
Chuck shares lessons he’s learned regarding leadership and teamwork – both on and off the football field. He’ll also reflect on the individuals who not only encouraged him to achieve success, but to also understand the
importance of lifelong learning, building relationships and giving back.
Chuck Long
SESSION OBJECTIVES:
The participants will be able to:
- Identify key leadership traits that foster trust, motivation, and resilience—both on the field and in everyday professional life.
- Describe the role of teamwork in achieving collective goals and how each individual's contribution impacts group success.
- Recognize the value of mentors and encouragers in shaping personal and professional development.
- Reflect on the importance of building meaningful relationships as a foundation for strong teams and communities.
Chuck Long's name has been synonymous with University of Iowa football for thirty years. As a former player and coach, his combination of charm, charisma and a winning attitude has motivated hundreds of young athletes and influenced multitudes of fans across the state of Iowa and beyond.
During his career as an Iowa Hawkeye, Chuck threw for 10,461 yards - the first Big Ten player and second player in college football history to throw for over 10,000 yards. During his final season in 1985, he led the Hawks to the Rose Bowl and finished second to Bo Jackson in the Heisman race. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year, received the Davey O'Brien Award (college player of the year), the Maxwell Award (the nation's best quarterback) and was named a first team Consensus All-American. Chuck was drafted in the first round (12th overall pick) of the 1986 NFL draft, spending eight seasons in the league with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.
He began his coaching career in 1995 at his alma mater - first as the defensive backs coach and then moved to quarterbacks and special teams. In 2000 he became an assistant at The University of Oklahoma where they won a national championship and where he coached Heisman Trophy winner, Jason White. Chuck was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and is an inaugural member of the Kinnick Stadium Wall of Honor. He transitioned out of coaching in 2013 and is currently the CEO/Executive Director of the Iowa Sports Foundation and an analyst for the Big Ten Network.