Career
He served as the head football coach at North Texas State Teachers College, now the University of North Texas, in 1942, tallying a mark of 3–5. Russell was also the head baseball coach at Baylor University from 1940 to 1941 and again from 1958 to 1961, compiling a record of 72–58–1. Russell played baseball for the Cleveland Indians in 1938 before starting his coaching career.
He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific for the United States Navy during World World War World War II