Coach Derrick Russell: Empowering Women Athletes On and Off the Court

You can’t miss basketball coach Derrick Russell. At 6'8" he literally stands out in the halls and the gym at Beaumont, but it is his coaching style and influence that are most hard to miss.

Prior to joining Beaumont three years ago, Head Coach Russell spent a lifetime playing basketball and was on the coaching staff for the men’s team at Case Western Reserve University.

ON THE COURT

With over 40 players on the team this year, Coach Russell has an opportunity to impact many young women at Beaumont. But he approaches them individually.

“Each athlete is different and each one has a unique learning style,” says Coach Russell. He is a firm believer that Beaumont athletes should be comfortable with who they are, and find their voice not just on the court but in their life.

“Many students have chosen Beaumont because they know that this is a place where they will be heard. I chose Beaumont for my own daughter (Rae). While she doesn't play basketball, she’s in the theater and a senior now. The philosophy is the same as in athletics—girls are heard here,” Coach Russell explains.

OFF THE COURT

Coach Russell considers himself more than just a basketball coach to his athletes. He supports them in other sports, in theater, in music, in robotics. Whatever they were doing, he encourages them to explore and broaden their interest. It is through this exploration they will discover their interests and talents and a path forward to know what they might choose as a college major or career.

“As much as I would tell my athletes this, they seem to just not quite hear what I was saying. Then I had the idea to have women say it to them. Why not bring in professional women who have made it through what feels like such an uncertain time in these young women’s lives?” Coach Russell asked himself. “If they heard it from women who were successful, then they might hear the message I was trying to share.”

It was from this idea that Coach Russell launched the Professional Women Speakers Series. He recruited professional women speakers who enthusiastically agreed to participate, and when he presented the idea to the student-athletes, they loved it so much they took over.

“All I really had to do was get out of the way,” Coach Russell shares. “My athletes loved the idea and showed their leadership. They carved time out of their practice so they could host these events. They jumped right in organizing each one and promoting to the school so even non-athletes came. We had four women at each event, and we had three different events last year with our students moderating the questions and answers sessions.”

“When the first female Athletic Director of Case Western Reserve or an FBI agent or three-time All-American Olympian speaks, they can relate to these women because these women can relate to them.”

“I want them to know it’s ok to not be perfect or not know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life at 15, 16, 17, or 18. I want them to know they are fine being who they are and that they will get there. They are learning all that they need to right now at Beaumont, and they will have a bright future."

Coach Derrick Russell is in his third year coaching the Blue Streaks Basketball team. He is the father of Rae Russell, Class of 2019, and is the husband of Kimberly Archibald Russell ’84. Visit Blue Streak Athletics HQ: www.beaumontschool.org/athletics.

Original Article from: https://www.beaumontschool.org/news/2018/10/03/beaumont-news-from-beaumont-to-boeing