UNB Happy to Have Coach Russell on Board

The world is big and round. Like a basketball. Put the world and a basketball together, however, and it becomes smaller.

That is how, in a round about way, Cory Russell landed with the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds as an assistant coach with the women’s program under the watchful eye of head coach Jeff Speedy.

Running down Russell’s resume – not to mention the fact he lives in Alberta – one wonders how in heck he ended up in Fredericton.

“I had known coach Speedy, though not very well, for a number of years through different stages of basketball,” said Russell. “Two years ago, he started recruiting Claire Colborne who I had been working with. One thing led to another and here I am.”

Yes, indeed. Speedy is glad to have him on board, too. Russell’s work in the game of basketball is lengthy. He’s been a head coach. An assistant. Recruited. Runs basketball clinics. Has a razor sharp mind when it comes to the game. Worked all over the world.

Sure, he could find another program somewhere, but it was through Speedy’s dedication and commitment to the game and to the UNB program that was Russell’s main reason behind joining the Varsity Reds.

“I had seen Jeff coach before and I knew he was very good,” Russell said. “What continues to amaze me on a daily basis is the incredible relationship he has with his players. He cares about them in so many ways. He is their friend, their mentor and their coach. Not many coaches can pull that off. He does. That’s a credit to him and the team.”

Russell, who comes in to Fredericton on a monthly basis, keeps in constant contact with the club he’s with. In this day and age of easy communication, watching games on the Internet and non-stop statistical data, keeping in touch with the Varsity Reds is much easier.

It’s a different situation for Russell.

When you’re used to calling the shots, it can be a tremendous adjustment when on the bench. It can be easy to jump into the fray and send mixed communications to the girls on the court or on the bolt. He knows he and fellow assistant coach Dan Goggin must know, understand and embrace their roles.

Not so in this relationship, he said.

“It hasn’t been difficult at all because Jeff listens to me and he makes me feel like I have an important role,” Russell said. “Jeff is our leader and everyone wants it to be that way.”

What Russell sees from this year’s UNB squad has him quietly confident in the team’s ability. The club has had a remarkable pre-season, building toward what everyone involved hopes to be bigger and better things to come.

“I’ve been so impressed with how hard these girls work,” Russell said. “They are in the gym morning, noon and night improving their game. They are driven to get better, both individually and as a team. Time will tell if we have what it takes to be a champion, but I like the progress we are making.”

Russell has been in the basketball game for decades. He has coached some outstanding teams and worked his way up from the bottom. Although the speed, transition and skill has improved over the years, he still wants to see one thing happen at the women’s level of basketball … “get to the basket … hard. And with purpose, please!”

“Girls need to be able to attack the basket more,” he said. “Even post players have to learn to dribble and drive, shoot and pass. We need to become more like the European players. They seem to be able to do more things. We’re going to get there, though.”

Coming from Alberta, Russell has been taken aback by the UNB program. Just think what happens next year when the program moves across the parking lot and into the Richard Currie Center. The wow factor will go up a notch, but Russell believes UNB is catching the wave and becoming a school the top females in the country and beyond are starting to pay attention to.

“In my mind, UNB is already a destination of choice for many girls,” he said. “Having the new gym will be a huge boost. Having people on the staff and in the administration levels who are so helpful will be a huge boost. The people at UNB care. Who wouldn’t want to be coached by Speedy and play at UNB. I know I’m sold.”