NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Bill Russell has been named the 32^nd head football coach at Norwich University. Coach Russell has just completed his 16^th season on staff including his 10^th season as the Associate Head Coach. During his tenure on the Norwich sidelines, Coach Russell has primarily been the inside linebacker coach and special teams coordinator.

"Bill Russell is the ideal fit as our next head football coach," announced Norwich University Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury. "He innately understands the Norwich University culture, has been a tremendous recruiter for the football program, has significant ties to our alumni, and has a plan for the future of our football program. Bill has been an asset for our entire campus and is a strong believer in the Norwich mission."

"First of all, thank you to President Anarumo and Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury for both their trust in me personally and their support of the football program," said new Head Football Coach Bill Russell. "It has always been a goal of mine to one day run my own program, and the opportunity to do it at Norwich University is truly a dream come true. I have been blessed to work for, and learn from, phenomenal coaches in my career and that has prepared me well for this opportunity. This is a special program with a rich tradition and history. I can't wait to get back to the recruiting trail to help build a great team in the future."

Coach Russell has recruited or coached some of the best players in program history.

• Long Ding '12 earned All-American honors as a kicker and was also the first Chinese born player to ever be signed by an NFL team.
• Wesley Medeiros '17 was named the ECFC Special Teams Player of the Year.
• Drew Banuskevich '14 earned Academic All-American accolades.
• Manni Romero excelled both as a punt returner and wide receiver. Romero ranked 17^th in the country while averaging 12 yards per punt return in 2019. As a receiver that year, Romero ranked 9^th in the nation with 1,235 receiving yards. Romero became the first Cadet ever honored by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston as the top DII/DIII offensive player in New England.
• Trevor Chase '23 finished his career owning almost every receiving record in Norwich football history. Chase was named the 2019 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. In 2022, Chase became the first Norwich player named NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Year.

A highly respected coach throughout New England, Russell has also taken a leadership role in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Assistant Coaches National Committee. He was published in the American Football Monthly and has also been a blogger for their website in the past. Russell is routinely a guest coach at multiple camps over the summer and has been sought out as a speaker on recruiting practices for several different football organizations.

"It was obvious to me that we needed to move fast and with a purpose," stated Hockenbury. "Coach Russell is uniquely positioned to help us move the football program forward. We are excited to have Bill, Deanna, Hudson, Lydia, and Darby staying in Northfield."
 
Coach Russell addressed the assembled team yesterday with a clear message. He reminded the entire room of the quote he has shared with the team at the start of each Norwich football game. "There is no place I would rather be and nobody I would rather be with."

As he continued, he began to explain his approach moving forward. "Our problems are not complicated, but they are difficult and require hard work. The little things make a difference. It all adds up. The expectation levels will be fully and completely communicated ahead of time. Those things all matter."

A native of Kennebunk, Maine, Russell played four years of college football at Mount Ida and served as team captain his senior year. Immediately after graduating, Russell began his coaching career at Mount Ida until joining the staff at Norwich University in 2008.