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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 23, 1926 Ensley, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | September 8, 2006 (aged 80) Statesboro, Georgia, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1946–1949 | Auburn |
| Basketball | |
| 1947–1948 | Auburn |
| Baseball | |
| 1949 | Auburn |
| Position(s) | End (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1958–1962 | Auburn (assistant) |
| 1963 | Vanderbilt (assistant) |
| 1964–1980 | Georgia (DC) |
| 1982–1989 | Georgia Southern |
| Baseball | |
| 1959–1962 | Auburn |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 83–22–1 (college football) 59–37–1 (college baseball) |
| Tournaments | 16–2 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 NCAA Division I-AA (1985–1986, 1989) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA Division I-AA Coach of the Year (1989) Eddie Robinson Award (1989) Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame | |
Erskine "Erk" Russell (July 23, 1926 – September 8, 2006) was an American football, basketball, track and baseball player and coach. He was also the defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs for seventeen years (1964–1981) and head football coach (1981–1989) of the Georgia Southern Eagles. He was also the head coach at Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1950s. He graduated from Auburn University where he earned ten varsity letters. He was the last four-sport letterman in the college's history.[1]
As the first head coach of Georgia Southern Eagles football team after a 40-year dormancy, Russell established a standard of excellence during his tenure, bringing them to three NCAA Division I-AA championships. Under his guidance the Georgia Southern Eagles became the first 15–0 team of the 20th century. His motto was "Just one more time."
Erk Russell was the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year for 1984–1986; was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1987; inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1991; became USA Today's Georgia Coach of the Year and Coach of the Decade for 1989; In 1989, he also became the Chevrolet-CBS Sports I-AA Coach of the Year; and in 1996 he was an Olympic torch bearer for the Atlanta Games.
Russell died in Statesboro, Georgia, on September 8, 2006, following a stroke at age 80. His funeral took place two days later at Paulson Stadium with over 2,000 fans, friends, family, and former players present.[2] His remains were cremated.
- ^ "Erk Russell of Georgia Southern Has No Peer in Division I-AA". SI Vault. Sports Illustrated. August 31, 1987. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Bynum, Russ. "Fans and friends bid goodbye to Russell." OnlineAthens 2006. Web. August 28, 2011. <http://onlineathens.com/stories/091106/news_20060911026.shtml>.