Spring Arbor University head men's soccer coach Marco Bernardini announced the addition of Cole Russell to the program as an assistant coach. Russell played for the Cougars for four seasons from 2017-20.
“I’m excited to be back here and be on the other side of the desk this time,” said Russell. “SAU gave me so much, and I’m looking forward to giving back and helping these guys to reach their full potential. I am thankful to Marco for giving me an opportunity to pour back into the program. I’m looking forward to this new challenge in my coaching career.”
Russell was a two-time All-Crossroads League First Team selection and was named the Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. He also garnered NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors twice in his career.
The Brighton, Michigan native helped lead the Cougars to three Crossroads League regular season championships from 2017-19, a Crossroads League Tournament title in 2020 and three consecutive trips to the NAIA national tournament. During his four years at SAU, the team boasted an overall record of 58-15-6 with a 29-3-3 mark in conference play.
Russell has coached futsal at ABK Futsal Academy, Grand Rapids Ole, MI Futsal Factory, and Midwest United FC. He also owns a soccer performance coaching company called Athlete Mental Game Coaching, which specializes in the mental game, personal training, and nutrition. He is a certified mental performance coach and certified personal trainer.
Russell graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He currently resides in the Lansing area with his wife, Hanna.
