Cole Russell begins his second season as the assistant coach of the SAU men's soccer team in 2025.
Russell, who played for the Cougars for four seasons from 2017-20, 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.
