Austintown hires Houser as athletic director

At its spring board of education meeting, the Austintown Board of Education unanimously approved to appoint Russell Houser as the new athletic director for the district.

Houser is a 1997 Austintown Fitch graduate. He graduated as a valedictorian and was part of both the football and track and field teams while in high school.

After high school he attended Malone University, where he played football for four years and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in business administration.

Houser also earned a master of science degree in physical education from Indiana State University and holds a certified strength and conditioning specialist certification from National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Houser coached football for 10 years at the collegiate level and one year at Austintown Fitch. Since 2012, he has been in administration, working at Wooster College and John Carroll as an assistant athletic director. His most recent position was at Center College in Kentucky as the deputy athletic director.