The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Russell finds plenty of support back on East Hampton sideline
CLINTON — One by one, he hugged his East Hampton players as they came off the court in the final seconds of the Shoreline Conference championship. One by one, his players, including the girl he had pushed in December and had made him a lightning rod for public opinion, hugged Shaun Russell back.
“We love our coach,” said Liana Salamone, who was honored as Shoreline Player of the Year before the game and went out and proved it Friday night at The Morgan School in a 35-24 victory over Cromwell.
That they love their coach was abundantly clear as the Bellringers won their fourth successive league title and now begin their quest for a Class M state championship.
“This night means a great deal,” Russell said. “I couldn’t be happier for Jordan (Murphy) and Mikeala (Rich). For our two seniors to win four of these, this is a way to pass the legacy and torch of what we try to do here. We want to have a championship effort all the time.
“Each season has a journey. This one is no different. They’re long. By this time of year everyone is a little banged up and tired. So you’re trying to find the way to push the right buttons and stay confident, believe in each other. The thing I was most proud of in this tournament is the way they stuck together.”
While each season is a journey, this one has taken a unique path. Sticking together became paramount. In speaking to four parents in recent weeks, including the mom of the girl who was pushed — it was not Salamone — it also is clear they support Russell.
“It is always gratifying when the people you work hard for are appreciative of the work that you do,” said Russell in his first public comments since returning to the bench on Feb. 14. “Particularly for their children. If you are doing this for any other reason, you should just get out of this.
“I’m happy to see the kids — it’s translating I guess is what I’m saying. That what we’re trying to do in the gym in those hours and hours and months and months is translating and the kids are having the experience they feel is worth it and people are appreciative of that. East Hampton always been
great to us. Always. Historically great crowds. They’ve always supported the kids.”
Russell is a non-stop coach during the game, barking out plays, directing players, pointing out things in anticipation. It wouldn’t be far off to call him a basketball savant. Ask him a X’s and O’s question — on this night it was his about halftime adjustments — and he’ll fill your notebook. Down 18-16, East Hampton allowed only six points in the second half. Great help defense. On the other end, more spacing.
Yet it was one second on Dec. 20, with East Hampton ahead by 24 points early in the fourth quarter against Valley Regional, that changed most everything in Shaun Russell’s world. He was yelling out an offensive set when he pushed his player from behind near the sidelines with both hands toward the correct position across the court.
The player stumbled, pitched forward and
needed three running steps to regain her balance. The play was caught on Valley TV, an independent study program at Valley Regional, which posted the full game to its YouTube channel.
The incident looked bad, worse than it was. Then again, if the player fell and was injured, it would have been worse than it looked. At any rate, there was no malicious intent. And that, superintendent Paul Smith said is what the investigation concluded: Unwise. Not malicious.
Make no mistake. Coaches get fired for putting their hands on players. To complicate matters, Russell also is the school’s athletic director.
In early January, I suggested a month suspension as coach — if there was nothing else in Russell’s history involving mistreatment of players. A Freedom of Information request by Hearst for Russell’s personnel file showed no previous problems.
That would have meant a Jan. 20 return. As the leave of absence extended, however, it appeared as if he might not return
at all. Suddenly, Russell was reinstated the day before the Feb. 14 game, Senior Night, against North Branford. Russell did not want to speak that evening. Matters were still raw.
Various people kept talking about the pain caused by “45 days” and finally it became clear. It wasn’t the East Hampton school district that was
holding up Russell’s return. It was the state Department of Children and Families.
On Feb. 16, Smith responded in an email, “There was a thorough DCF investigation (started in early January) with the ultimate finding; ‘Upon supervisory review, it was decided to not substantiate the allegation of physical abuse of (name
redacted) by her basketball coach Shaun Russell.’”
I did not know the DCF investigated high school coaches. I do know the DCF is serious business.
I also learned this from defense attorney Mark Sherman’s website: Under Connecticut law, the DCF should complete the investigating within 45 days of the receipt of the report. There is no right to a trial by judge or jury, to cross-examine witnesses of the accused or request evidence at the investigation level. This can only be done at the appeal level and that could take many months. By that time, the coach already may have been fired.
Scary stuff for a coach. Not only couldn’t Russell coach his team, which includes his daughter Delaney. He couldn’t go watch his son play on the East Hampton boys team.
“I went on NFHS to watch,” Russell said. “All those things were challenges. You find other ways to impact your own children. I always felt I’ve got to be a dad first anyway. The coaching is an element of the relationship you have with your children.”
I asked Russell what he had learned about himself since Dec. 20.
“In terms of being analytical toward yourself as a coach, you’re always trying to learn,” Russell said. “What are the things you can do outside of the things you already know to help the team? How do I connect with all the kids? How do you find a way to push a good player to become a great player? How to turn a role guy into a solid-minutes guy?
“For me I think it was more perspective. Taking a step back, re-grounding myself in terms of the things that I can do to and things I cannot control. You’ve got to let those go.”
As this story spread throughout Connecticut and outside the state, there were people who praised Russell as a loving and concerned coach and others who said he was cold and rigid. Some wanted him fired. Other said a one-game suspension would suffice. I asked him if there was one thing all those people don’t know about him?
“That’s hard to say,” Russell said. “You get so focused on what you’re doing and being with these kids and the time you spend. I can’t spend time to either educate or inform people of who or what I am. Or what happens here if they’re not here. It’s hard to do.
“It’s very challenging to live in these times.”
Parents told me back in early January Russell already had apologized to the player and team. I asked him if he reflected on how one second can have such dramatic impact on a man 26-year coaching career?
“That’s a difficult question,” Russell said. “The time has passed. We’re in a different spot. What I am able to control I try to do and pour myself into. The stuff that I can’t, I guess I leave that for other people. The people that had opinions didn’t know me to begin with. So I’m not sure how you go back and ever straighten that out — if that’s the right phrase.
“That’s not my sentiment. I’m not telling people what to think or do. I think that’s someone else’s job. I’m just trying to be here with these kids, supporting them, trying to move them forward day by day in terms of being better people, better players, better teammates.”
Last question. If you had to do it over again?
“I don’t think I can answer that question,” Russell said. “The context of the moment has been so skewed and twisted that it’s an impossible question to answer.”
And with that, a coach closing in on 500 wins and running up an impress win-loss record in recent years went in chase of his first state championship. There is a journey to complete.