During Don Russell’s 31-year career at Wesleyan (1960-91), he coached several different sports, taught phys ed, served as chair of physical education and, from 1968 to 1988, was director of Athletics. Don holds a special place in Wesleyan athletic history for leading the Cardinals to an outstanding win record over his time as head football coach.
A native of Massachusetts, Don interrupted his senior year in high school, where he was a three-sport athlete, to serve in the Coast Guard. After graduating from Bates College, he took his first teaching and coaching positions at secondary schools in Maine and Massachusetts. In 1960 he came to Wesleyan.
Don’s first assignments were coaching freshmen teams in football, basketball, and baseball. By 1964 he had become head coach of football, while continuing as freshman baseball coach. As athletic director he was one of the original founders of NESCAC in 1971 and continued to foster and build the conference throughout his career. When Wesleyan embraced coeducation, almost doubling enrollment, Don took up the new challenge of integrating women’s sports into the program and oversaw the expansion of varsity sports from 12 to 29. From 1976 to 1981 he added head coach of women’s squash to his assignments.
As football coach, Don posted a 37-19 record, for a .661 winning percentage. His Cardinal teams won three Little Three Championships (’66, ’69, and ’70). The 1969 Cardinals finished their season 8-0 and became the last undefeated Wesleyan football team. They shared the Lambert Cup (with Delaware) as the best college division team in the East, while Don Russell was named New England College Division Coach of the Year.
Over his career, Don served as an officer of two dozen professional organizations, including several major NCAA councils and committees. He also demonstrated a strong commitment to civic engagement. Among his many roles, these are a sampling: member of the Middletown Board of Education and Common Council, chair of the United Way campaign, and member of the Board of Corporators of Middlesex Memorial Hospital.
