The Siena Men’s Lacrosse program and head coach Liam Gleason has announced the addition of Mike Russell as Assistant Coach to the program starting for the 2021-22 season. Russell joins the Saints after serving time in the United States Air Force since 2016.
“We are excited to welcome Mike to the Siena lacrosse family,” said Gleason. “I had the opportunity to coach Mike for two years and watched him develop into a dominant defender. He has great energy and knowledge that will help in the development of our defensive personnel. Mike will also coach our substitution box on game days and work with our faceoff unit.”
Russell comes to Loudonville after spending five years in the United States Air Force, most recently serving as an Air Transportation Supervisor. Russell was in charge of logistics and quality control among other things in the realm of supplies and rigging equipment to supply air drop platforms. Russell served two deployments, both as an Air Transportation Supervisor and an Air Transportation Specialist. He would go on to earn four selections as Air Transportation Member of the Month.
On the lacrosse field, Russell played one season at Onondaga Community College winning a national championship before spending his next three years (2013-15) as a member of the UAlbany Great Danes. While at UAlbany as a senior in 2015, Russell was named First Team All-America East Defense and was named to the America East All-Tournament Team. A local product as well, Russell earned First Team Times Union, Section II All-Star, and All-Suburban Council honors as a high school senior from Burnt Hill-Ballston Lake High School.
Prior to his time in the Air Force, Russell worked in the United Lacrosse Summer Program for two summers, as well as in the maintenance department for the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District, helping perform general maintenance around the grounds for three years.
