Paul Longano was named Northern Kentucky's cross country and track & field head coach on August 11, 2026, following 15 seasons as the associate track & field coach with the Norse.Â
Student-athletes Longano has trained & recruited including two Horizon League record holders and 27 Horizon League champions.
Longano completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati, earning a BA in History. He then entered the coaching scene at the high school level, beginning at Mariemont before moving to Taylor High School in 2003. During his tenure coaching in Ohio high schools, Longano's athletes won 73 conference, 44 district, and four regional championships; including one athlete that finished runner-up at the State Championships. The teams he coached won 11 conference, seven district, four regional, and one state titles. In 2005, he was named CHL Cross Country Coach of the Year and City of Cincinnati Boy's Division II Coach of the Year.
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Longano then moved on to coach at Xavier University, where he also completed a Master's degree in Sports Administration. At Xavier, he coached student-athletes that established 25 new school records. Following Xavier, Longano was afforded the opportunity coach at Mount Saint Joseph as the head cross country and track & field coach. At MSJ, the program broke 46 school records, claimed 17 individual conference titles, saw two student-athletes named field-event athletes of the year and two national qualifiers.
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Born in Cincinnati, Longano currently lives in North Bend, Ohio with his wife Bernadette and his four children; Thomas, Anthony, Teresa Marie, and John Paul.
Longano’s Horizon League Champions & Honorees
2026 – Cameron Bittermann, Outstanding Running Performer (HL Outdoor)
2026 – 200m Cameron Bittermann (HL Outdoor)
2026 – 400m Cameron Bittermann (HL Outdoor)
2026 - 400mH Sierra Kendall (HL Outdoor)
2026 - 4x400m relay, Sierra Kendall, Olivia Kennedy, Joi Bradley, Cameron Bittermann (HL Outdoor)
2026 – 200m Cameron Bittermann (HL Indoor)
2026 – 800m Olivia Kennedy (HL Indoor)
2025 – 400m Cameron Bittermann (HL Outdoor)
2025 – 200m Cameron Bittermann (HL Outdoor)
2025 – Cameron Bittermann, Outstanding Running Performer (HL Outdoor)
2025 – 800m Olivia Kennedy (HL Indoor)Â
2024 – 200m Erin Starks (HL Outdoor)
2024 – 4x100 Meredith Goff, Cameron Bitterman, Andrea Armstrong, Erin Starks (HL Outdoor)
2024 – High Jump, Julia Pohl, (HL Indoor)
2024 – 200m Meredith Goff (HL Indoor)
2023 – 800m Olivia Kennedy (HL Outdoor)
2023 – 4x400 Andrea Armstrong, Erika Nageleisen, Megan Sullivan, Jailyn Ross (HL Indoor)
2022 – 4x400 Lynsey Shipley, Andrea Armstrong, Erika Nageleisen, Megan Sullivan (HL Outdoor)
2022 – High Jump, Julia Pohl, (HL Indoor)
2022 – Freshman of the Year, Fielding: Julia Pohl
2022 – 4x400 Lynsey Shipley, Andrea Armstrong, Erika Nageleisen, Megan Sullivan (HL Outdoor)
2022 – 400M Lynsey Shipley (HL Indoor)
2021 – 4x400 Lynsey Shipley, Andrea Armstrong, Erika Nageleleisen, Megan Sullivan (HL Outdoor)
2021 – 400M Lynsey Shipley (HL Outdoor)
2021 – 4x400 Lynsey Shipley, Andrea Armstrong, Jailyn Ross, Megan Sullivan (HL Indoor)
2021 – 200M Lynsey Shipley (HL Indoor)
2021 – 400M Lynsey Shipley (HL Indoor)
2021 – Bobby Fong Award Recipient – Kayla Thompson
2019 – 100H Kayla Thompson (HL Outdoor)
2019 – 400M Lynsey Shipley (HL Outdoor)
2019 – 4x400 Lynsey Shipley, Briauna Keys, Jenna Flairty, Samantha Shaw (HL Outdoor)
2019 – Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor – Briauna Keys
2017 – Triple Jump Demondrea Starnes (HL Outdoor)
2016 – Triple Jump Demondrea Starnes (HL Outdoor)
