Richard W. Russell (1997) - Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame

Richard W. Russell

Induction:
1997

Sports: Swimming Coach, Diving Coach, Water Polo Coach
The foundation of the Bucknell aquatics program for more than a quarter-century, Dick Russell coached the men's swimming and diving team from 1968-94 and created the water polo program at Bucknell, coaching the team from its inception as a varsity sport in 1977 until 1986. Russell's swim teams compiled a dual-meet record of 154-121 and won 11 conference championships, while his water polo teams tallied an overall record of 223-68-4, making him the first coach in Bucknell history to record 100 or more victories in two sports. Under Russell, the Bucknell water polo program won four Eastern titles and played in the NCAA Championships five times. A former president of the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Water Polo leagues, Russell was named Eastern Water Polo Coach of the Year in 1985 and was later inducted into the Collegiate Water Polo Hall of Fame. Russell was a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of Ohio State.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1997)