"Coach’s Corner: Handle Hard, Love Hard — Jordan Long’s Mission with the TN Tigers"

Jordan Long

@Coach_Jordan4

Jordan’s story has come full circle, from once being a 15U player under Chip Smith to now shaping the next generation of Tigers. When Chip first asked him to lend a hand in the spring of 2024, Jordan didn’t realize how quickly those lessons from his own playing days would resurface. By the end of that summer, he found himself stepping in to lead the 15U group, and what started as helping out turned into a calling. The spark was lit. The joy of instilling confidence in young athletes and watching them grow confirmed that this was where he belonged.

For Jordan, the TN Tigers represent something far beyond wins and losses. They embody an identity of smart, tough, skilled, and fearless basketball that starts with Chip Smith and filters through every practice, every drill, every lesson. It’s a culture built not only to produce great players but to mold strong young men. Jordan has seen it firsthand: daily investment, no days off, teaching details that last well beyond the basketball court. The Tigers don’t just build teams; they build people.

Off the court, Jordan is just as committed. He’s a father of four and believes the greatest responsibility he carries is being a model for his kids. That role as a dad pushes him to lead with integrity and care in the gym. He’s also working toward a degree in history education, determined to keep teaching and mentoring, whether in the classroom or through basketball. His influence expands at Berean Academy, where he serves as an assistant coach under Joey Harmon. In just two seasons, he helped guide Berean to a state runner-up finish and then a state championship. That experience elevated his coaching and gave him yet another platform to impact young athletes.

His own basketball history runs deep. Jordan won two state championships in high school and earned MVP honors before moving on to play collegiately at Piedmont International University (now Carolina University) under Josh Howard, where he was named All-Freshman. He chased the pro path, playing in the TBL until COVID shut everything down, followed by a short stint in the ABA. While the pandemic closed one chapter, it opened another. Returning home, he began training players like a young Daniel Wiggington, and from there, his path back into coaching became clear.

The lessons Jordan learned as a player now shape the coach he is today: perseverance, discipline, humility, and the understanding that details matter. He preaches “handle hard”—a mindset of pushing yourself, carrying yourself the right way, and embracing challenges head-on. Every bucket should be acknowledged by pointing to the teammate who assisted. Every bench should be cleaned before and after games. The small things are the standard, because they reveal who you are.

Jordan’s “why” comes from two places: his younger self and his children. He wants to be the kind of coach he once needed, someone who pushes players to be their best while loving them enough to tell the truth. And he wants his kids to feel the same pride he once felt, knowing their father is making a difference. His mission is to care deeply, to hold kids accountable, and to always be remembered as someone who invested everything he had in them.

What makes the TN Tigers special, Jordan believes, is the relationships. Programs come and go, but lasting cultures are rare. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. He knows that now more than ever, grateful to have returned to the very place where his own journey started.

Two verses guide his steps: Ecclesiastes 9:10 — “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” and Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” These words fuel his mission daily, reminding him that basketball is the tool, but purpose, effort, and faith are the foundation.

Jordan Long’s impact stretches far beyond training sessions and tournaments. It’s felt in the way his players carry themselves, in the trust they build, and in the lives changed through his example. For him, it’s all about being the person he once needed, and making sure every player who crosses his path leaves knowing they were cared for, challenged, and loved.