Alfred University Athletics

 

Hired at AU:	May of 2024
Prior to AU:	Head Men's Rugby Coach at University of Maine (2015-2024)
	Women's Rugby Forward Coach at University of Maine (2018-2019)
	Side Forwards Coach at NSCRO North East Collegiate Select (2018-2020)
	Head Men's Rugby Coach at University of West Florida (2013-2015)
	Men's Rugby Forwards Coach at University of West Florida (2009-2013)
Alma Mater:	MS - University of West Florida '24 BA - University of West Florida '13

Russell was hired as the Head Men's Rugby Coach and Assistant Women's Rugby Coach in May of 2024. He also plays a lead role in the campus intramural program.

Russell comes to Alfred University from the University of Maine, where he recently led his team to the 2024 National Collegiate Rugby Men's Division II National Championship title. He has worked as the men's rugby coach since August of 2015 and has a 49-20-1 record to show for it. Russell's men's rugby program has qualified for the national tournament for 15's in 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023 outside of the champion season of 2024. His program also qualified for nationals in 7's in 2021 and 2022, finishing in the Top-15 in both seasons.
 
Russell's work with the program extended beyond the pitch as he worked with the University of Maine Strength & Conditioning department to set up a partnership for both men's and women's rugby as both are club sports. He also established an endowment to support the men's program's 50^th anniversary team.
 
Russell also worked with the women's rugby team at U. Maine and helped coach them to finish ninth in the nation during his one and a half years with the team.

Concurrently, while working at Maine, Russell coached the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO), now named the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), North East Collegiate Select team as the Side Forwards Coach. During his two years, he helped lead them to two National Championship Finals and coached eight players to All-American honors. Russell also coached for the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) Collegiate Select Side Coach. He was responsible for running the clinic to select the NERFU North Select Side and coached NERFU North to a championship in the Augural Northeast Select-Side Tournament.
 
Prior to his work up north, Russell was in the southern part of the United States, working with the University of West Florida from 2009 until 2015. He began as the men's rugby Forwards Coach until 2013 and was promoted to Head Coach in 2015. During his tenure, Russell coached the team to their first Battleship Rugby Tournament Championship win, helped bring the team up from a winless season to two undefeated seasons, four Division Championships, three conference championships and one regional championship in just four years. He also held the responsibility of planning and hosting the first and subsequent annual NSCRO South Cup tournament.
 
Russell has also held titles within the rugby world such as NCR Region 1 Small College Director, NERFU College Director and UWF Rugby Team President. Outside of the realm of rugby, he worked in the Sport Clubs & Youth Programs department at the University of Maine, starting as a Coordinator and then the Assistant Director.
 
Russell graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in May of 2013 and has a Master of Science in Sports Performance and Coaching.