ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia University volunteer assistant football coach
Russell Gary passed away on Sunday evening. He was 59 years old.
Gary joined the Concordia football staff as an assistant coach in 2004 and has been with the program across three different coaching staffs, serving alongside Mark Mauer, his college teammate at Nebraska until 2010. He then worked on the staff of Ryan Williams when he was promoted to the head coach position for the 2011 season and was retained on the staff of current head coach
Shannon Currier when he returned to the program in 2016.
His commitment to Concordia football was deep, making an impact on the lives of student-athletes across his tenure. A diverse program, players from all backgrounds have shared meaningful personal stories about their relationship with Coach Gary through various social media networks. His impact transcended his position coaching expertise as a secondary/defensive backs as well.
"Coach Gary has been with CSP football since 2004, the past 15 seasons," Concordia head coach
Shannon Currier wrote in an email to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Coach Gary was a special man that brought instant credibility due to his personality, all-pro status, and the love he shared with the CSP football family. Coach Gary was loved by so many!"
The multi-sport prep athlete graduated from Minneapolis Central High School in 1977 and from the University of Nebraska in 1981. He was selected in the second round (29
th overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints where he spent five and a half seasons before finishing his career in 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He was a 1983 All-Pro First Team selection, producing a career high of three interceptions. He had 189 tackles and 10 passes defended in 1984. He helped lead a Saints defense that ranked in the top five in total defense for three years in a row from 1982-84. He started in 58 of the 80 games he competed in across his professional career.
With Nebraska, Gary was an AP and UPI All-Big Eight First Team performer, also being named an AP All-America honorable mention selection. He was inducted into Nebraska's Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Minneapolis native returned to his hometown where he lived and worked for the City of Minneapolis after his NFL career while coaching Concordia's defensive backs.
Relevant memorial service information will be posted here if made publicly available.
CSP COACH/ADMINISTRATOR TWEETS
FORMER COACHES & STUDENT-ATHLETE TWEETS
MEDIA & COMMUNITY TWEETS
