Just three years after John Russo joined Hofstra University's baseball staff as head assistant, the East Meadow resident has been named the head coach.
Russo, whose experience includes head coaching duties at St. Joseph's College in Indiana and the University of West Alabama, was promoted after Patrick Anderson left to school to take a job as consultant to the general manager with the Hagerstown Suns, the Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
"It’s been a long road from smaller schools to bigger schools, but now I am the head coach of a Division I school," Russo said.
Russo's family relocated to East Meadow from Illinois when he took the job at Hofstra, and his daughters, 8 and 5, are heavily involved the the Creative Arts Program of East Meadow (CAPE) and attend
After a couple of years rebuilding, Russo said he's excited for the prospects of the upcoming season. The Hofstra team features 16 juniors and three seniors, so the team will be mostly intact for the next two seasons.
"Next year, every pitcher returns and every position player but two [as well]," Russo said. "The next two years should be really exciting for Hofstra baseball."
"There’s only 301 of these jobs, so I have one of the most prestigious jobs that you can have," Russo added. "It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to be a Division I coach, and now I have got to realize that dream."
For more on Hofstra University's Baseball program, click here.
