regularly and is proud of the tradition he played a big part in building.
“ You never win enough games,” he said laughing.“ I was blessed to have great talent. I was blessed to have outstanding assistant coaches. I never applied for another head coaching job … I never wanted to leave Charlestown. My old high school coach told me once to get a coaching job, pay my dues and be loyal and one day I would get a chance. So that is what I did.”
Both Mastin and Long said the facilities at Charlestown have come a long way since the program began in 1971.
Long was the woodworking instructor and said his class constructed the first scoreboard at Dutch Reis Field for the 1971 season.
Both Mastin and Long said they get asked a lot about which Charlestown football team was the best- the 1975 team( 9-1, conference champions), the 1989 squad( 12-1, lost in semistate) or the 2012 team( 12-1, lost in semistate). Neither one will answer the question.
“ No way I am going to answer that question,” Mastin said.“ We have had some outstanding players at Charlestown.”
“ People are always asking me which one was best team. I have never tried to compare them,” Long said of the 1975 and 1989 teams.“ Both of those teams were really good.”
Mastin, who played collegiately at Ball State and taught at Charlestown for 40 years, has helped start three football programs. While a student teacher at Tri-High, at Charlestown in 1971 and he came out of retirement in 2014 when Scottsburg revived its football program. He served as offensive coordinator there from 2014-19.
Mastin said he loved coaching football and will never forget what the 1975 team accomplished in only its fourth year of existence. He is proud of the program, the one he helped start 50 years ago.
“ It’ s been a great journey,” he said.“ I was blessed.”
PAGE NO. 30 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE JAN / FEB 2026