Wade Russell

Oak Hill High School

WADE RUSSELL  Oak Hill High School – 1981  Taylor University - 1986    A 1981 graduate of Oak Hill, Wade Russell was a first-team all-state selection in football, competed in the state track meet and advanced to the semi-state as a wrestler.  He was named the Grant County Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. After completing his high school career, Russell played one season of football and track at Purdue University before transferring to Taylor University.  In 1985, he was the first Taylor student-athlete to ever be selected to a NAIA All-American First Team plus be named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete First Team.  In football, he was a three-time All-NAIA District selection plus was the 1986 NAIA District Champion in both shot put and discus. After graduating from Taylor in 1986, Russell signed a professional football contract with the Miami Dolphins in 1986 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987. Wade has been the head strength and conditioning coach at Lafayette Jefferson High School since 2005.  He has also been a teacher at the school since 2005. Russell served as the head strength and conditioning coach at Ball State University from 1987-2005, and earned a master’s degree from BSU. Russell is a member of the Oak Hill High School and Taylor University Hall of Fame. Russell and his wife, Julie, have one daughter, Danielle, and two granddaughters – Scarlett and Sophia.