EREA – Baldwin-Wallace College has named Kim Russell as its first-ever women's lacrosse coach. She began her duties on January 9, 2012.
The College instituted lacrosse as one of its 23 varsity sports at its October Board of Trustees meeting and Russell was selected after an extensive national search. The college will play a junior varsity schedule in 2012-13 and begin playing varsity lacrosse the following season.
"We welcome Kim to Baldwin-Wallace," said Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz. "She has a vast background of experience in field hockey and lacrosse and will be a valuable asset to the College.
"She has experience both starting programs and administering them to success," continued Diaz. "We are excited to have Kim on campus and look forward to working with her to make the BW program a winner."
Russell has been coaching women's lacrosse for the past 16 years and has coached at every level. She comes to BW after most recently being the first-ever coach at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington (UNC Wilmington) in the spring of 2011. She additionally has started lacrosse programs at Magnificat High School (1996-2003) and for Rocky River (Ohio) Youth & Middle School (2003-Present). Presently, Russell is involved as an administrator and coach at the Ohio Premier Lacrosse Club of Cleveland, is the President and Club Coach at the Westside Field Hockey & Lacrosse, Inc. and Director and Volunteer Coach for youth and middle school girls at the Rocky River Recreation Center. She also serves as the Vice President for U.S. Lacrosse (Ohio North Coast Chapter). Russell additionally has tutored/ mentored 14 current lacrosse coaches and 13 student-athletes who went on to play Division I field hockey and/ or lacrosse.
Coach Russell has a vast background as a teacher, coach and instructor. In addition to her coaching and administration responsibilities, she has taught physical education for the past 11 years at the Ruffing Montessori School in Rocky River and at the Virgin Islands Montessori School & International Academy (2006-10) and has served as a Group Exercise Instructor for the past 28 years.
"Starting a college lacrosse program from scratch is a challenge as well as an opportunity," said Russell. "I am excited about both as I love challenges and I see this as a great opportunity for the growth of the College, for its new lacrosse student-athletes, for me and for lacrosse both locally and nationally.
"I have been involved with girls and women's lacrosse at every level, from youth to NCAA Division I as a student-athlete, coach and/ or administrator," continued a smiling Russell. "I can't imagine a better fit than to be a part of this new and exciting program. I love coaching and sharing the passion I have for lacrosse with my student-athletes and I am excited to be able to do it at BW. I am thankful for the opportunity."
Russell is a 1989 graduate of the College of William & Mary (Va.) where she played NCAA Division I field hockey and lacrosse. In field hockey, she served as a team captain (1988), was named all-conference twice (1987 and 1988) and All-South Region as a senior. In lacrosse, Russell played on the 1986 William & Mary team that beat a University of Maryland team that won the NCAA Division I title that season. As a junior, she played on a team that appeared in the NCAA Division I National Tournament, and as a senior, William & Mary won both a conference and ECAC titles and was named as a starter for the South team in the North-South All-Star Game.
Following graduation from William & Mary, Russell began working for International Management Group (IMG) in its Golf Division and remained there until 1993.
She is the mother of four children, Maddie (17), Sam (14), Anna (12) and Charlie (7) and resides in Lakewood.
FOR MORE BW Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.
