Coach Mike Sewak also announced the firing of Levorn Harbin, who served as defensive ends coach and special teams coach since 2002.
Russell has served as defensive coordinator for the Eagles since 1997, having joined the staff a year earlier as linebackers coach.
``There are times when it is necessary to make difficult decisions, and this is certainly one of those occasions for me,'' Sewak said. ``Coach Russell and I have come to an agreement that it is time for him to explore other opportunities beyond Georgia Southern football. He and I have been a part of the same program for the past seven seasons, and that makes this change especially hard.''
Russell is the son of Erk Russell, who reinstated football at Georgia Southern in 1981 and coached for eight seasons beginning in 1982. His teams won three national championships, going 15-0 in his final season in 1989. His record was 83-22-1.
GSU missed the national playoffs after going 7-4 last season, ending a streak of six consecutive seasons reaching the playoffs.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/165519