Russo prepares for new role as Director of Athletics

Matthew Pruzan and Anoushka Parakh Staff Writers

Matthew Russo, Physical Education teacher and head coach of the UD Varsity football and Varsity baseball teams, will become Director of Athletics, Health & Physical Education on July 1 after current Athletics Director Robert Annunziata retires. Russo has been part of the school community since 2004 and has served in numerous positions across the Athletic program, including Upper Division (UD) Physical Education (PE) Department chair.

The Director of Athletics, Health & Physical Education is going to be a big job, Russo said. “There’s a lot of moving parts and there’s a lot of things that come up throughout the day that maybe you didn’t plan on dealing with, but now have to.” To prepare for the role, Russo ordered books about leadership, reflected on his past experiences, and solicited advice from colleagues who have been part of the Athletics Department for a long time.

Over the years, Russo has enjoyed teaching his PE students and finds the experience very fruitful. “If you have the right class, and the right dynamic, it can be so rewarding,” he said. “You see the kids in an unstructured manner, which they’re not used to because normally the classroom is sit-down, and so I love getting a better view of their whole self.”

When it comes to coaching, Russo’s favorite parts are the connections that he makes with his athletes and the traditions he builds within the program. When five alumni came back to visit last Wednesday, Russo chatted with them about football and the things they remembered from their time here. “The fact that you can be part of their high school career is pretty cool and probably the most fulfilling part of the job,” he said. Russo plans to continue coaching the football and baseball teams as Director of Athletics.

Russo constantly challenges his players to be their best, Jack Chasen (11) said. “The whole team worked hard, and in return, Russo worked just as hard, if not harder,” he said. Russo also encourages them to work in the offseason on their craft.

“Russo is a pretty amazing coach, and not just from the baseball side of things, but controlling the team in a way that keeps us motivated and in the game,” Aden Soroca (12) said. “His go to phrase was ‘competition,’ and I loved that because it motivated me.’” Throughout his time in the UD, Soroca has seen Russo as a role model.

Russo’s competitive nature is something that all of his athletes’ value, Max Ting (12) said.

“He’s going to bring that into his new position, and if all Horace Mann sports start having that same competitive energy that he has, it is really going to elevate the whole athletics program.”

Coach Ron Beller, who coaches the Varsity Football team with Russo, admires the quality and the care Russo has for his players. “He is the ultimate motivator, the ultimate communicator, and the ultimate culture builder,” Beller said.

“He loves to compete, but he focuses more on teaching life skills and the importance of controlling and embracing the approach.”

As a person, Beller described Russo as selfless, organized, and always working his hardest. “He’s just a perfect fit and I am so happy for him,” he said. “He worked his way up to get here and I know he loves the school, the community, and the department.”

Coach Gregg Quilty has known Russo for as long as Russo has been at the school — 19 years — and said he is passionate about his work, easy to get along with, and easy to work with. “He cares about all of his students and his athletes,” Quilty said. “He really doesn’t want to leave anyone behind — he’s very caring as a teacher and a coach in that manner.”

Russo helps students on the field and serves as a mentor figure for them in their personal lives, Ting said. “I talked to him a lot about my college process. I would email him over the summer about my recruiting and when I was faced with decisions, I would always come to him to talk about it,” hs said. “He’s really great at giving advice and being there for you whenever you need him.”

If players made mistakes, Russo was always there to pick them up, Miller Siegel (10) said. “He’s a great coach and he’s fun to be around.”

Russo has also impacted his colleagues, including Beller, who Russo brought on as a coach when he was only 20 years old, Beller said. “He molded me into the coach and teacher that I am today. He is somebody that you always just want to be around, and you always want to do good for Coach Russo and gain his respect. He has changed my life for the better.”

Russo also understands what the typical student is like and knows how to put teams and programs together around the school culture, Soroca said. “He has been around guys like Pedro Alvarez and Harrison Bader, who are a different caliber of athletes,” he said. “He knows how to motivate students and I think he is really perfect for where the school is heading.”

Russo’s appointment has sparked ex citement across campus, Quilty said. He is already meeting with coaches, PE teach ers, and everyone he can to get settled in and obtain as much information as he can before the school year ends. “That’s just a sign of enthusiasm and dedication, and I think he’s going to be a big hit.” Since An nunziata has served as a huge mentor for Russo, Quilty predicts it will be a smooth transition.

Russo is grateful for the opportunity that the school has given him and will continue to give him, he said. He plans to make some changes to the PE program over the following years, such as elective-based PE for UD students. “I’m excited for the change, and I am excited to do different things that I’ve never done before and the challenge that comes with that,” he said. “Getting a fresh start and having a new chal lenge is pretty exciting.”