After leading the Colonels in battle as a basketball player for two seasons, and helping the team win the Southland Conference Championship, in addition to earning a birth in the NCAA Division I Tournament in the 1995-1996 season, former Colonel point guard Todd Russ will try to turn the team around this season like he did years ago, but this time as an assistant coach.
In Russ, the 2003-2004 Colonel basketball team gets a proven winner, and an alumnus who knows first-hand what it takes to be successful. During his two-year stay at Nicholls State, Russ helped the Colonels achieve near greatness in the college basketball world.
Basketball spreads across the nation like wildfire in what we call “March Madness,” a tournament where 64 of the best teams compete for basketball supremacy. During this time, Russ helped the Colonels compete as a number 13 seed in the NCAA Division I tournament, but unfortunately the Colonels’ Final Four hopes were ended at the hands of the University of Virginia in the first round.
During his prep career, Russ led White Castle High School to the Class A State Championship game twice and received the games’ Most Valuable Player Awards.
Russ is looking to bring his winning ways and coaching philosophies, which are hard play and in-your-face defense, to this year’s team.
“I think the game is won on the defensive in,” Russ said. “Defensively is the way you’re either going to win the game or stay in the game.”
Russ’ coaching style is one of an aggressive general, and one that he hopes the team will adopt.
“Offensively and defensively I like to be aggressive. I would always tell my guys, ‘you want to be patient but aggressive,'” Russ said.
Russ hopes his aggressive style of coaching will translate into more wins this season for the Colonels.
A storybook beginning, coaching at the college that he not only played for, but also attained a degree from, Russ seems excited about the possibility of greatness on this year’s team.
When asked how he felt about coming back to Nicholls and coaching, Russ said, “I’m very excited to work with (head basketball coach) Ricky Blanton and (assistant coach) J.P. Piper, and I’m excited to be back in Thibodaux again. I’ve been on both the high and the low over here winning a conference title in 1995, and not having a great year the following year, so to come back and see all the people again is great.”
When asked how he would like to write the final chapter of his storybook career at Nicholls, Russ said, “Todd Russ would once again come back to help Nicholls State, win the Southland Conference title and go off to the NCAA tournament, which I think we really have a chance at doing.”
When asked what he hopes this season’s team learns from him, Russ said, “I want to bring an attitude that we are going to work everyday and everyday we are going to try to get better. There are going to be some rough spots and some tough times, but if you prepare yourself the right way, you’ll always be able to get through it.”
“I also want to teach the kids some values, to prepare them for life after basketball, because there will be a life after basketball,” Russ said.
In a quote taken from Nicholls State Sports Information Department, head men’s basketball coach Ricky Blanton said, “We are excited to have Coach Russ back at Nicholls State. He will be an asset to our program and our university.”
His experience and knowledge of what his players are going through will help Russ and Blanton turn this year’s team into a championship team like the one Russ played on in the mid 1990s.