University of the Pacific

A Stockton native, Jeff Russell was the heart and soul of the mid-90's Tigers, leading Pacific's defense from his defensive back position. He was inducted into the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Russell played the demanding position of safety in college and had a ball-hawking style. In 1994, the senior earned first team All-Big West Conference honors, contributing to Pacific's first winning season (6-5) in 17 years, when he led the Tigers in tackles (79) and interceptions (five).

After college, Russell was an assistant football coach at Lincoln and played for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, the Los Angeles Extreme of the XFL and the Nashville Kats, Memphis Pharaohs, San Jose Saber Cats and New York City Hawks of the AFL. He also coached for the AFL's Detroit Fury and New Orleans VooDoo, and was a coach and general manager of the Utah Blaze.

He earned a master's degree from Middle Tennessee State while playing for the Pharaohs.