Fort Worth, TX – Kevin Long, First Tee – Fort Worth’s first and only Executive Director, is stepping down from that position but will remain with the organization through 2023. Long came to First Tee – Fort Worth in 2006 from Fort Worth Country Day School where he had served as Athletic Director for the previous four years. Prior to that position Long spent 25 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator in private secondary schools.
First Tee – Fort Worth has grown exponentially under Long’s leadership from a few hundred participants to 48,000 annually through its various delivery channels. The chapter’s first programming site was a field at the east end of Rockwood Park. Today First Tee operates at eight programming sites in the area and has built two Ben Hogan Learning Centers, one at Rockwood GC that is First Tee’s primary location and another at Squaw Creek GC in Parker County. First Tee’s location at Briscoe Elementary School in southeast Fort Worth was the only site nationally on a school-owned property when it opened.
“While we are sorry to lose Kevin as our Executive Director, we are delighted that he will remain a part of our chapter as a consultant,” said Graham Marshall, Chair of First Tee – Fort Worth’s board of directors. “Kevin has built our chapter into one of the premier chapters in the First Tee Network, and we are forever indebted to him for his dedication, hard work, and passion for our mission, participants, and families,” stated Marshall.
Long will remain as Executive Director until a replacement is named. Long has accepted a position as Head Men’s Golf Coach at Texas Wesleyan University, returning to his first love of coaching and working with young people on a team.
“It has been a privilege to lead First Tee – Fort Worth over the past 16 years making a positive impact on young people with our character education and life skills development program through the game of golf. Thanks to everyone involved with our chapter for their dedication and commitment. I look forward to being a part of continued growth and impact and to supporting the new leadership,” said Long. “The opportunity to head up the storied Men’s Golf Program at Texas Wesleyan is another unique and exciting professional opportunity, and I look forward to continuing the culture of success with the young men in our program, both on and off the golf course.”