Chris Russell

Boys Coach

206.954.4655

Played HS basketball at Rainier Beach HS in Seattle. Played at Fullerton junior college and made it to the national junior college championship. Played at South Mountain CC, and was ranked #10 in the country while there for half of the year. Finished up playing college ball at Paul Quinn College where I was a academic All American 2 years in a row. Also coached interim with the Dallas Diesel Men's club team during a internship. 

My Coaching philosophy

To have an environment that encourages athletes to learn and develop on, and off the court. To create a positive, disciplined, and organized learning environment in good and bad times. To always challenge, and push our athletes to the limit while encouraging mistakes.Try new things. Players deserve space for growth. Furthermore, make every mistake made by the players a teaching moment while also supporting and building them up. We are only as strong as our weakest link.  We do this by exposing our players to challenging drills that require players to rely on their instincts, and effective decision making skills under pressure. The in practice drills will develop competency and confidence in athletes when game time comes. Above all, the games is what we make it. You get out what you put in.The sooner the players grasp that concept, that in this game if I give all I have, it will give me all it can in return. This philosophy will breed consistent effort, and a sense of urgency to continue striving for greatness, while playing each game like its their last.

Coaching Inspiration

My HS coach Mike Bethea is the most influential coach I have ever had in my life. The program that he has built at Rainier Beach is one I hope to build one day. Coach Bethea has built a power house program, but at the same time it is so very selfless , down to earth and humbled. He has gotten guys to elite D1 colleges, and the NBA under his tutelage. The mentality and work ethic that has grown to be the face of the program. Coach Bethea has been around the Seattle basketball scene for a long time, and was just recently inducted into the Washington State Basketball Hall Of Fame. He sets a foundation in his HS players that they can still stand on in college. From the defensive principles, all the way to the level of intensity each play. To play with pride and urgency when coming into a game, and trying to dominate an opponent. That is how we learned to compete playing under Coach Bethea, and that is how we make each other better. Iron sharpens iron, and coach made it clear that players owe it to each other to give one another their best effort every day. What Strengths do you bring to the program. 

I Bring various aspects of myself to the coaching position. At this point in my career I bring nothing but knowledge. A skill that everyone doesn't have is that I can easily put myself in the players shoes, and understand where they are coming from. I know exactly where they want to go. I've been a skills, and a strength and conditioning coach for few players, and teams that I have played for. A strong bond between players, and coaches is what I bring to the program along with having a great sense of the basketball community here in the metropolis and the south west.