Head Coach Jamie Russell

The Michigan Tech hockey program has developed a competitive attitude under seventh-year head coach Jamie Russell. He has proven his success in Houghton, currently sitting in fourth place in school history for wins with 61. He needs just six more wins to move into second place behind hall of fame coach John MacInnes.

The 2008-09 season was one of the toughest for Russell, with the team dealing with a string of injuries throughout the season. The team battled every game on it's way to tying the WCHA record for most conferences ties with seven. Russell was also able to guide the team to a mid-season sweep of Upper Peninsula rival Northern Michigan, including the first ever shutout over the Wildcats.

During the 2006-07 season, Russell, a Michigan Tech alum, was honored as the 2007 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) co-Coach of the Year and led Michigan Tech to an 18-17-5 overall record, its highest total since 1995-96. The Huskies also posted their best conference finish since 1992-93 with a sixth-place showing in the WCHA standings. Michigan Tech also made its first appearance at the WCHA Final Five since 1996 after knocking off Colorado College in the opening round of the league playoffs.

Russell became the third Michigan Tech head coach to be selected WCHA Coach of the Year and the first since Herb Boxer gained the award in the 1987-88 season. The legendary John MacInnes won the award six times (1960, 1962, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981) during his illustrious career in Houghton.

Recognized by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) as one of 11 finalists for the prestigious Spencer Penrose Award, Russell fielded a 16-10-3 record against teams in the top 20 in 2007. The Huskies ranked fifth in the country in scoring defense (2.17 gpg), fifth in shots allowed (24.8 spg), and fifth in penalty killing (87.3%). In addition, Michigan Tech surrendered just 21 third-period goals, which placed the Huskies first nationally.

Under Russell's tutelage, Michigan Tech broke a single-season record by compiling five shutouts, besting a mark set back in 1974-75. The Huskies swept five teams in 2006-07, marking its highest such total since 1997-98.

A native of Kamloops, B.C., Russell owns a 61-137-32 overall record and a 44-110-27 mark in WCHA play.Russell has coached two All-Americans, five All-WCHA selections, one Hobey Baker Award finalist and 60 WCHA All-Academic Team recipients since arriving in Houghton.

Russell, who played defense for Michigan Tech from 1987 to 89, spent the four seasons prior to arriving at Michigan Tech helping build the Cornell University Big Red into a national powerhouse.During his tenure (1999-2003) as the lead assistant at Cornell, the Big Red amassed an 87-39-10 record, won two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles (2001-02, 2002-03) as well as an ECAC playoff championship (2002-03). In addition, CU advanced to the NCAA Championships on two occasions, including a final eight appearance in 2001-02 and a spot in the Frozen Four in 2002-03. CU completed 2002-03 with a school-record 30-5-1 mark and was the top-ranked team in the country in the final regular-season poll. Among Russell's responsibilities at Cornell were working with the defensemen and the penalty-killing units. Cornell finished number one in the country in both team defense (1.36 goals-against per game; next closest, 2.21) and penalty killing (.900) in 2002-03.

Prior to his stint at Cornell, Russell spent five years as an assistant coach at Ferris State. While not at FSU in 2002-03-a year in which the team won the Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship-Russell had a hand in recruiting the club's senior class.

Russell played two seasons at Michigan Tech after sitting out 1986-87 due to transfer rules. He was an assistant captain in both of his seasons on the blueline for the Huskies (1987-88, 1988-89) and posted career totals of eight goals and 22 assists in 77 games played.

Following graduation, he went on to play for Larjevellan Sweden in 1989. His final two playing years were spent competing for Winston-Salem of the East Coast Hockey League in 1990 and for Binghamton of the American Hockey League in 1990.

Russell has also been extensively involved with USA Hockey throughout the years. He served as the director of the USA Regional Bantam Evaluation Camp from 1996 to 99 and has also been a lecturer for the USA Hockey Coaches Achievement Program.?In addition, Russell has been an instructor at multiple hockey schools, including Michigan Tech's Hockey Development Center.

Russell, born Aug. 31, 1966, is a member of the American Hockey Coaches Association. He is married to the former Linda Frankovich of Laurium, Mich., and the couple resides with their sons, Ben, Charlie and Graeme, in Houghton.