After the late summer resignation of BRISD Head Football Coach/Athletic Director Tim Wylie, Chance Rodriguez was named the BRISD Interim Head Football Coach/Athletic Director. At the end of the football season, a thorough and comprehensive search/selection process for the permanent position began. Applications were accepted until Christmas Break. And this past week, an 8-person BRISD interview committee completed (over a 3-day period) their work of interviewing a high-quality slate of 8 semi-finalist candidates for the permanent position. At the conclusion of that process, the committee came to consensus on naming Jason Russell as the Lone Finalist for this position. Coach Russell is currently the Offensive Coordinator and play caller at Melissa High School, where he has worked since 2014. Prior to that, he worked at Midland, Lamesa, and Menard. Some of his coaching accomplishments include: helping build the Melissa High School football program from the ground up and building it into what is now one of the top 5A programs in the state, leading a 5A offense this past year that averaged 47 points and 503 yards per game, and setting the school records for...points scored in a season (608), touchdown passess in a season (44), and total passing yards in a season (3,733). Coach Russell was also named the State of Texas Assistant Coach of the Week in 2019, and many of his players have received state honors and college scholarships.
According to his references, Coach Russell is a hard worker, energetic, enthusiastic, loyal, and positive. His plans are to lead the Blue Ridge program in a manner that will represent the school and community with a great sense of pride, character, discipline, and class. He has great organizational skills, leadership skills, an incredible work ethic, implements strong discipline in his program, and has an undying will to achieve success at a high level - with a strong program-wide emphasis on strength and conditioning.
On a personal level, Coach Russell is a Christian family man. He has been married to his wife Becca (a school nurse) for 10 years. They have three children: son Jaxson (age 8), daughter Jolie (age 6), and son Jarrett (age 3).
Coach Jason Russell plans to lead the Blue Ridge athletic program with high standards, both academically and socially, that will uphold and enhance the high standards of Blue Ridge ISD and the Blue Ridge community. And he plans to be a positive influence on all students and athletes, so that they may become productive members of society through guidance in academics, athletics, and the entire educational process.
Jason Russell's official recommendation for hire will take place at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting: Monday, January 22nd at 6:00 pm. In the meantime, Coach Russell plans to begin meeting with current BRISD coaches and players.
