Rusty Russell (American football)
Encyclopedia
Harvey N. "Rusty" Russell (December 1895 – December 1983) was an American football
coach. He is mostly known for head coaching Southern Methodist University
from 1950-52 as well as the longtime head coach at an Orphanage in Fort Worth Texas, The Masonic Home and School
. Russell was inducted to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 1990, and is also a member of the Sports Hall of Fame at Howard Payne University
, the school he graduated from in 1922, as well as The Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor, and The Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He won NCAA National Coach of the week when at SMU ,once in 1950 and again in 1951 for his respective wins over Ohio State and Notre Dame . He helped co-author the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Code of Ethics in 1952 along with Coaches Bill Murray of Duke, Lloyd Jordan of Harvard and Bud Wilkinson of Oklahoma. That document is still used today. Russell was also a charter member of the National Football Hall of Fame Association. While in College at Howard Payne University in Texas, he was a three sport letterman (Track, Basketball and Football), was captain of both the Basketball and Football teams, and was named All Conference End in football in 1921 in the TIAA (Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association- forerunner of the Southwest Conference).
Russell started his coaching career at the high school level
. In 1922 he was the head coach at Granger High School
for one year (7-3 record). In 1923 he became the assistant head coach at Temple High School then Head Coach in 1925 and 1926 where he took them to the State Semi-finals in 1926.(1925–26; 20-3 record). In 1927 he became head coach at Fort Worth Masonic Home
(1927–1942) he had a record of 127-30-12 (81% win percentage). The Masonic Home was an orphanage with a total High School enrollment of about 160 boys and girls. They played in the Top Class at the time, the "A" leagues in Texas, with schools who had thousands of students. In his 16 years at Masonic Home, he went to the State playoffs 10 times. Building a football program from scratch, Russell guided the Masonic Home’s 'Mighty Mites' to a tie versus Corsicana High School in the 1932 state championship game. Russell's 1941 team was undefeated but he withdrew from the playoffs following his first postseason win after finding he had an ineligible player who was a year older than the family had listed. The story of the Mighty Mites and their rise from a team of rag-tag orphans to a Texas football powerhouse was recently told by New York Times bestselling author and former Dallas-area sports writer Jim Dent in "Twelve Mighty Orphans" Jim Dent refers to Russell as "The Father of the Spread Offense". In 1942, he actually coached at both Masonic Home in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Highland Park High 35 Miles away in Dallas. He arranged to coach on alternate days and had the games arranged on Fridays and Saturdays so they would not conflict. Masonic Home was a coin toss away from playing Highland Park in the 1942 playoffs.
Beginning in 1942 Russell coached at Highland Park High School
(1942–44; 27-4 record), where he guided a squad that featured Bobby Layne
and Doak Walker
to an appearance in the 1944 state championship game. After he was hired as backfield coach at Southern Methodist University, Russell lured away Doak Walker from the University of Texas
. As head assistant coach and responsible for the offense, Russell enjoyed a 32 win 16 loss and 5 tie record, where the Mustangs were nationally ranked, won two Southwest Conference Championships, and made two Cotton Bowl appearances in 1947 and 1948. Following Matty Bell
's resignation on January 22, 1950, Russell was immediately named his successor. After a good start with a 6–4 season in 1950 where SMU was rated #1 in the Nation at midway through the season, Russell was increasingly under fire after two losing seasons in 1951 and 1952. He eventually resigned on February 2, 1953. Russell Then coached one year at Schreiner College, 1953 (5-3-1). He then went on to Victoria College as Head Coach and Athletic Director from 1954 through the 1960 seasons where his record was (40-27-2). He then retired from coaching.
In 1962 he came out of retirement to be the head coach at his alma mater, Howard Payne University. He again retired after two losing seasons. His record as a High School Head Coach over 23 seasons, was 181 wins, 40 losses, and 14 ties (82% win %), His overall record as a Head coach in 23 years as High School and 13 years as College Head Coach is 250-100-21 (71% win percentage).He was an assistant coach for 5 years in College at SMU and 2 years in High school at Temple , Texas for a total career of 42 years. He held a Masters degree in Education and was a teacher and Principal many of his High School coaching years. Russell coached a number of All-Americans while at SMU, among them (Doak Walker, Dick McKissack
, Kyle Rote
, Dick Hightower and Val Joe Walker
. Doak Walker also asked Russell to make his introduction as he received the 1948 Heisman trophy
award. In addition, Walker won the Maxwell Award
in 1947. Russell also had two All-Americans at Victoria (Charlie Burk and Floyd Dellinger). Russell coached a number of NFL players, among them: Kyle Rote, Doak Walker, Bobby Layne
, Dewitt Coulter, Hardy Brown
, Herschel Forester
, Bill Forester
, Paul Page, Raymond Berry
, Fred Benners
, Pat Knight, Ed Bernet
, Forrest Gregg and others.
Using a complex passing attack, unheard of at the time, Russell is considered one of the forerunners of the spread offense.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. He is mostly known for head coaching Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
from 1950-52 as well as the longtime head coach at an Orphanage in Fort Worth Texas, The Masonic Home and School
Masonic Home Independent School District
The Masonic Home and School of Texas was a home for widows and orphans in what is now Fort Worth, Texas from 1889 to 2005. The first superintendent was Dr. Frank Rainey of Austin, Texas. Starting in 1913, it had its own school system, the Masonic Home Independent School District.The campus included...
. Russell was inducted to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 1990, and is also a member of the Sports Hall of Fame at Howard Payne University
Howard Payne University
Howard Payne University is a four-year private university located in Brownwood, Texas.Currently the university enrolls 1,400 full-time students. Howard Payne is known for the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, its Music program and its Christian Studies program...
, the school he graduated from in 1922, as well as The Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor, and The Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He won NCAA National Coach of the week when at SMU ,once in 1950 and again in 1951 for his respective wins over Ohio State and Notre Dame . He helped co-author the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Code of Ethics in 1952 along with Coaches Bill Murray of Duke, Lloyd Jordan of Harvard and Bud Wilkinson of Oklahoma. That document is still used today. Russell was also a charter member of the National Football Hall of Fame Association. While in College at Howard Payne University in Texas, he was a three sport letterman (Track, Basketball and Football), was captain of both the Basketball and Football teams, and was named All Conference End in football in 1921 in the TIAA (Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association- forerunner of the Southwest Conference).
Russell started his coaching career at the high school level
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. In 1922 he was the head coach at Granger High School
Granger High School (Granger, Texas)
Granger High School is a United States secondary school located in Granger, Texas. It is part of the Granger Independent School District located in Williamson County.-Athletics:Granger High School participates in the following sports:...
for one year (7-3 record). In 1923 he became the assistant head coach at Temple High School then Head Coach in 1925 and 1926 where he took them to the State Semi-finals in 1926.(1925–26; 20-3 record). In 1927 he became head coach at Fort Worth Masonic Home
Masonic Home Independent School District
The Masonic Home and School of Texas was a home for widows and orphans in what is now Fort Worth, Texas from 1889 to 2005. The first superintendent was Dr. Frank Rainey of Austin, Texas. Starting in 1913, it had its own school system, the Masonic Home Independent School District.The campus included...
(1927–1942) he had a record of 127-30-12 (81% win percentage). The Masonic Home was an orphanage with a total High School enrollment of about 160 boys and girls. They played in the Top Class at the time, the "A" leagues in Texas, with schools who had thousands of students. In his 16 years at Masonic Home, he went to the State playoffs 10 times. Building a football program from scratch, Russell guided the Masonic Home’s 'Mighty Mites' to a tie versus Corsicana High School in the 1932 state championship game. Russell's 1941 team was undefeated but he withdrew from the playoffs following his first postseason win after finding he had an ineligible player who was a year older than the family had listed. The story of the Mighty Mites and their rise from a team of rag-tag orphans to a Texas football powerhouse was recently told by New York Times bestselling author and former Dallas-area sports writer Jim Dent in "Twelve Mighty Orphans" Jim Dent refers to Russell as "The Father of the Spread Offense". In 1942, he actually coached at both Masonic Home in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Highland Park High 35 Miles away in Dallas. He arranged to coach on alternate days and had the games arranged on Fridays and Saturdays so they would not conflict. Masonic Home was a coin toss away from playing Highland Park in the 1942 playoffs.
Beginning in 1942 Russell coached at Highland Park High School
Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas)
Highland Park High School is located in University Park, Texas.Highland Park is a part of the Highland Park Independent School District. It serves all of the city of University Park, most of the town of Highland Park, and portions of Dallas.-History:...
(1942–44; 27-4 record), where he guided a squad that featured Bobby Layne
Bobby Layne
Robert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
and Doak Walker
Doak Walker
Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...
to an appearance in the 1944 state championship game. After he was hired as backfield coach at Southern Methodist University, Russell lured away Doak Walker from the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. As head assistant coach and responsible for the offense, Russell enjoyed a 32 win 16 loss and 5 tie record, where the Mustangs were nationally ranked, won two Southwest Conference Championships, and made two Cotton Bowl appearances in 1947 and 1948. Following Matty Bell
Matty Bell
Madison A. "Matty" Bell was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator in the United States...
's resignation on January 22, 1950, Russell was immediately named his successor. After a good start with a 6–4 season in 1950 where SMU was rated #1 in the Nation at midway through the season, Russell was increasingly under fire after two losing seasons in 1951 and 1952. He eventually resigned on February 2, 1953. Russell Then coached one year at Schreiner College, 1953 (5-3-1). He then went on to Victoria College as Head Coach and Athletic Director from 1954 through the 1960 seasons where his record was (40-27-2). He then retired from coaching.
In 1962 he came out of retirement to be the head coach at his alma mater, Howard Payne University. He again retired after two losing seasons. His record as a High School Head Coach over 23 seasons, was 181 wins, 40 losses, and 14 ties (82% win %), His overall record as a Head coach in 23 years as High School and 13 years as College Head Coach is 250-100-21 (71% win percentage).He was an assistant coach for 5 years in College at SMU and 2 years in High school at Temple , Texas for a total career of 42 years. He held a Masters degree in Education and was a teacher and Principal many of his High School coaching years. Russell coached a number of All-Americans while at SMU, among them (Doak Walker, Dick McKissack
Dick McKissack
James Richard "Dick" McKissack is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for one season for the Dallas Texans-References:...
, Kyle Rote
Kyle Rote
William Kyle Rote, Sr. was an American football player and sports announcer.-Early life:Rote attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was an all-state basketball and football player....
, Dick Hightower and Val Joe Walker
Val Joe Walker
Val Joe Walker is a former defensive back in the National Football League. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1952 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and would later play four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and one with the San Francisco 49ers....
. Doak Walker also asked Russell to make his introduction as he received the 1948 Heisman trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
award. In addition, Walker won the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
in 1947. Russell also had two All-Americans at Victoria (Charlie Burk and Floyd Dellinger). Russell coached a number of NFL players, among them: Kyle Rote, Doak Walker, Bobby Layne
Bobby Layne
Robert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
, Dewitt Coulter, Hardy Brown
Hardy Brown
Hardy Brown was an American football linebacker in the National Football League, All-America Football Conference, and the American Football League. He played college football at the University of Tulsa and then professionally for the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and the Denver Broncos...
, Herschel Forester
Herschel Forester
Herschel Vincent Forester is a former professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the Cleveland Browns .-References:...
, Bill Forester
Bill Forester
George William Forester was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played eleven seasons for the Green Bay Packers and was selected to four Pro Bowls...
, Paul Page, Raymond Berry
Raymond Berry
Raymond Emmett Berry is a former football wide receiver. He played for the Baltimore Colts during their two NFL championship wins. He later had a career in coaching, highlighted by his trip to Super Bowl XX as head coach of the New England Patriots...
, Fred Benners
Fred Benners
Frederick Hagamann Benners is a former American football player. He played the 1952 NFL season for the New York Giants. Benners also played at Southern Methodist University and is considered one of the greatest Mustang players of all time....
, Pat Knight, Ed Bernet
Ed Bernet
Edward Nelson Bernet is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Southern Methodist University, and played professionally for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955, then returned to his hometown in 1960 to play for the American Football League's...
, Forrest Gregg and others.
Using a complex passing attack, unheard of at the time, Russell is considered one of the forerunners of the spread offense.