Bill Russo (American football)

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Bill Russo
Biographical details
Born(1947-06-19)June 19, 1947
New York, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 29, 2021(2021-09-29) (aged 74)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater Brown University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1969–1977 Brown (assistant)
1978–1980 Wagner
1981–1999 Lafayette
Head coaching record
Overall118–113–4
Tournaments0–1 (NCAA D-III playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Patriot (1988, 1992, 1994)
Awards
Eddie Robinson Award (1988)
ECAC Coach of the Year (1981)
AFCA Kodak Coach of the Year (1981)

William John Russo (June 19, 1947 – September 29, 2021) [1] was an American college football coach. He served as the head football at Wagner College from 1978 to 1980 and at Lafayette College from 1981 to 1999. In 23 seasons as a head coach, Russo compiled a 118–113–4 overall record. [2] In 1988, 1992 and 1994 Russo coached the Lafayette Leopards to outright Patriot League conference titles. Russo received the Eddie Robinson Award in 1988, which is given annually to the nation's top coach in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Russo's 103 wins at Lafayette are the most of any head coach in the program's history.

Russo is most notable for comforting a crying Lafayette football player after the loss to Lehigh during the 1998 Rivalry game.

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs NCAA#
Wagner Seahawks (NCAA Division III independent)(1978–1980)
1978 Wagner2–8
1979 Wagner5–5
1980 Wagner8–2L NCAA Division III Quarterfinal
Wagner:15–15
Lafayette Leopards (NCAA Division I-AA independent)(1981–1985)
1981 Lafayette 9–28
1982 Lafayette 7–320
1983 Lafayette 6–5
1984 Lafayette 5–5
1985 Lafayette 6–5
Lafayette Leopards (Patriot League)(1986–1999)
1986 Lafayette 6–52–2T–2nd
1987 Lafayette 4–72–34th
1988 Lafayette 8–2–15–01st
1989 Lafayette 5–52–2T–2nd
1990 Lafayette 4–71–45th
1991 Lafayette 6–53–2T–2nd
1992 Lafayette 8–35–01st
1993 Lafayette 5–4–23–1–12nd
1994 Lafayette 5–65–01st
1995 Lafayette 4–6–13–23rd
1996 Lafayette 5–52–24th
1997 Lafayette 3–82–4T–4th
1998 Lafayette 3–83–3T–3rd
1999 Lafayette 4–72–4T–5th
Lafayette:103–98–440–29–1
Total:118–113–4
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from final NCAA Poll.

References

  1. ↑ Trumbauer, Tyler. "Former Lafayette coach Russo passes away". WFMZ.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  2. ↑ DeLassus, David. "Bill Russo Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
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