Football
Russ, John
John Russ
- Title:
- Running Backs / Video Coordinator
- Email:
- russ_jm@mercer.edu
- Phone:
- (478) 301-4618
John Russ enters his second season as the Bears' running backs coach in 2021.
On the ground, the Mercer averaged 167.6 yards per contest, the third-highest total in the Southern Conference. Against Western Carolina, running back Nakendrick Clark ran for a career-high 92 yards and two TDs, and the Bears scored five touchdowns on the ground. The 302 rushing yards against the Catamounts were the most in the Drew Cronic era. In the season finale at Samford, Deondre Johnson scampered for a career-high158 yards and two TDs to become the Bears' lone 100-yard rusher of the 2020-21 campaign.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Russ was the offensive coordinator ad QB coach at Hebron Christian Academy. At Herbon Christian, he worked with former NFL player and head coach of the Lions, Jeff Saturday.
In 2018, Russ worked at Cherokee Bluff High School as the quarterbacks coach and the passing game coordinator.
Russ got his start to coaching at Georgia State where he was a graduate assistant for Defensive Coordinator Nate Fuqua.
Prior to his coaching days, Russ was the Mercer Bears quarterback from 2013-16. In his four years for the Bears, Russ appeared in 46 games and passed for 8,569 yards and 78 passing touchdowns. He guided the Bears’ to a 27-19 overall record through the first four years of restarting the program.
Russ and his wife, Emily, live in Macon.
Collegiate Coaching Experience
On the ground, the Mercer averaged 167.6 yards per contest, the third-highest total in the Southern Conference. Against Western Carolina, running back Nakendrick Clark ran for a career-high 92 yards and two TDs, and the Bears scored five touchdowns on the ground. The 302 rushing yards against the Catamounts were the most in the Drew Cronic era. In the season finale at Samford, Deondre Johnson scampered for a career-high158 yards and two TDs to become the Bears' lone 100-yard rusher of the 2020-21 campaign.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Russ was the offensive coordinator ad QB coach at Hebron Christian Academy. At Herbon Christian, he worked with former NFL player and head coach of the Lions, Jeff Saturday.
In 2018, Russ worked at Cherokee Bluff High School as the quarterbacks coach and the passing game coordinator.
Russ got his start to coaching at Georgia State where he was a graduate assistant for Defensive Coordinator Nate Fuqua.
Prior to his coaching days, Russ was the Mercer Bears quarterback from 2013-16. In his four years for the Bears, Russ appeared in 46 games and passed for 8,569 yards and 78 passing touchdowns. He guided the Bears’ to a 27-19 overall record through the first four years of restarting the program.
Russ and his wife, Emily, live in Macon.
Collegiate Coaching Experience
- 2020 – Pres. – Mercer University
- Running Back Coach
- 2017-18 – Georgia State
- Graduate Assistant
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