Philip Long swam for the Suburban Swim Club near Philadephia, and later attended Yale, graduating in 1970 with a degree in psychology. A breaststroker, his best year was 1968 when he won the NCAA title i the 200 yard breaststroke, placed fifth at the AAU meet in the 200 metre breaststroke, and made the Olympic team by placing third at the US Olympic Trials. Long starting working for Yale in information technology in 1971 and made it a career, eventually serving as director of information technology from 2001-10.