Coaching Staff
Christian Madrigal - Assistant Soccer Coach
Falcon head men’s soccer coach Greg Dalby and Air Force Athletics are proud to announce the addition of Christian Madrigal to the men’s soccer staff. Madrigal comes to USAFA by way of Loyola Marymount where he served six seasons as assistant coach.
“Christian comes to Air Force from one of the best college soccer programs on the west coast over the last five seasons in LMU,” coach Dalby said. “His professionalism, winning pedigree, organization, high character, engaging personality, and work ethic are a perfect fit for our program. Christian has a wealth of experience to share with our cadets and he will, no doubt, make a big impact within our program in helping our cadets mature, develop, and learn how to compete at the highest level."
"I am thrilled to take on the role as assistant men’s soccer coach at The United States Air Force Academy," coach Madrigal exclaimed. "I am extremely grateful and appreciative for this opportunity given by Coach Dalby. I look forward to working with the great coaches, support staff, and cadet athletes at the Academy, and I cannot wait to contribute to the development of competitors and leaders of courage, strength, and discipline."
During his stint at LMU, Madrigal coached three MLS Super Draft picks in Jacob Jackson (GK), Noel Caliskan (MF), and Tyger Smalls (W), while also helping the Lions to a WCC title in 2020-21. In six seasons, Madrigal helped LMU three NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, 2020-21, 2023) highlighted by an Elite 8 run in 2023.
Prior to Loyola Marymount, Madrigal spent a season at Cal State Fullerton where he matriculated to earn his master’s degree in kinesiology while helping the Titans to a Big West semifinals appearance. Madrigal earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at California State University Stanislaus where he played in 77 matches with 63 starts, earning a All-CCAA Honorable Mention nod in 2014.
Clint Long - Assistant Soccer Coach
Air Force head men’s soccer coach Greg Dalby and Air Force Athletics are proud to announce the addition of Clint Long to the men’s soccer staff in advance of the 2025 season. Long joins the Academy by way of Penn State where he served five years as assistant coach.
"I'm thrilled to reunite with Coach Long,” coach Dalby said. “We spent many years together side by side at Penn State and I could not be more excited for our cadets, our GK crew, and our program to have someone of his caliber. Clint comes from winning programs, and he will make his mark at Air Force men’s soccer in all the areas that matter. He is well equipped to help Air Force men’s soccer compete at the highest level of college soccer and help recruit and develop future warfighters to win.”
In addition, Long will assist in all aspects of the program including, but not limited to recruiting, session planning, individual player development, camp planning, and gear ordering and management.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to be named an assistant men's soccer coach at The United States Air Force Academy,” coach Long said. “I cannot wait to get to work with some incredible coaches, staff, and cadet athletes at the Academy. I would like to personally thank Coach Dalby for trusting me to join his staff to help contribute to the Academy's legacy of success. I am looking forward to working with and developing well-rounded, disciplined leaders of character.”
During his stint at Penn State, he helped lead the team to a Big Ten Regular Season title and its 15th Big Ten Tournament Final appearance in 2023. Long helped coach four All-Big Ten honorees including Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Kris Shakes and Defender of the Year Femi Awodesu. He also coached Olympian Mohamed Cisset who represented Mali at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
During the 2022 season, he helped coach six All-Conference selections and three All-Region honorees. Long led senior goalkeeper Kris Shakes and the defense to two shutouts including a shutout victory over No. 25 Akron on Senior Day.
Long helped Penn State to an historic 2021 campaign as the Nittany Lions captured both the Big Ten regular season and tournament crowns. He and the staff were named the 2021 United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year.
During the title run, Long coached the backline and junior goalkeeper Kris Shakes to four-straight shutouts to raise both trophies in Happy Valley. Penn State’s 7-0 goal margin in the Big Ten Tournament was the largest margin in tournament history. The Nittany Lions’ 3-0 shutout of Indiana in the championship match also marked the first time since 2008 a team has shut out the Hoosiers in a conference tournament.
Long also assisted backline veteran Brandon Hackenberg to his third-straight first team All-Big Ten honor, the first Nittany Lion defender to ever garner three first-team nods in his career.
In his first season with the Nittany Lions, Long guided sophomore goalkeeper Kris Shakes to a second team All-Big Ten honor and a Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week nod during the unprecedented spring 2021 season. Shakes held a 0.96 goals-against average during conference play with a .793 save percentage, along with three clean sheets. He finished with the second-best save percentage in the league and one that stood top 50 nationally.
Long also assisted in backline leader Brandon Hackenberg’s second-straight first team All-Big Ten plaudit, and helped coach and develop two Third Team All-Americans in 2020-21 in midfielder Pierre Reedy and forward Danny Bloyou.
Long matriculated to Penn State from Oregon State where he was an assistant coach for the Beavers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The Beavers finished back-to-back seasons with Long on staff with winning records for the first time since 2002-03.
He managed all aspects of goalkeeping at Oregon State and helped the defensive unit by planning and executing training curriculum. The Beavers posted four shutouts during the 2018 season with a 1.12 goals against average. The defense had five shutouts and a 1.14 goals against average in 2019.
Long also assisted in the development of three first team Pac-12 All-Conference players in 2019, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2018, and two 2018 MLS SuperDraft picks.
Prior to Oregon State, Long spent the 2017 season as an assistant coach at Otterbein University in Ohio. The Cardinals finished the season ranked 11th nationally in NCAA Division III, riding a 17-game win streak to finish with a 19-3 record.
Long coached the goalkeepers and the defense to 11 shutouts in 2017 and a 0.82 goals against average on the year. He helped develop one All-American, four all-region players, the OAC Defender of the Year, seven all-conference honorees, and six All-Ohio Team players.
The Cardinals were the OAC Tournament Champions and finished conference play with an undefeated record. The Otterbein staff was named the Great Lakes Regional Staff of the Year while leading the team to a NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Long also had coaching stops at his alma mater, Cal State Stanislaus, as the women's soccer assistant coach, UC-Merced as an assistant men's soccer coach, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an assistant/interim head men's soccer coach.
As a student-athlete, Long played at California State University Stanislaus from 2012-14. He was a three-time team captain, leading the Warriors to a 2012 CCAA Championship, the first and only in school history, as well as an NCAA Tournament appearance. Long was also the 2012 Cal State Stanislaus Newcomer of the Year.
Long totaled 5,096 minutes as the Warriors' goalkeeper, second most in program history. He held a career .788 save percentage and posted 14 shutouts from 2012-14, both second most in the school record books. Long also holds the Cal State Stanislaus single-season records for goals against average (0.83) and saves (98) as well as the record for career wins in net with 26.
He also spent two seasons at Oregon State as a goalkeeper.
After college he had playing stints for PDL clubs Midland Odessa Sockers and Fresno Fuego before advancing to the USL with the Sacramento Republic.
Long earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Cal State Stanislaus in 2014.