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Breaking: IMG Academy Names Kim Russell Girls Lacrosse Director

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , .
via press release   BRADENTON, Fla. (July 24, 2017) – Today IMG Academy announced Kim Russell, a collegiate and high school head coach of more than 20 years, as its new Director of Girls Lacrosse. Russell joins IMG Academy from Baldwin Wallace University where she served as head coach since the program’s inception in 2012 and led the Yellow Jackets to great heights. As Director of Girls Lacrosse, Russell will oversee IMG Academy’s girls lacrosse program and serve as head coach for the inaugural 2017-18 varsity season. She will also manage the girls program’s camp business. IMG Academy announced the addition of the girls program in February 2017 and is currently accepting student applications. After joining the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) in 2014, Russell led Baldwin Wallace to the OAC Conference finals in three of the past four years with a 46-21 overall record and .687 winning percentage. Named the OAC Coach of the Year in 2017, Russell has guided the development of multiple All-Conference Team honorees and Regional All-Americans, in addition to players named to the IWLCA Honor Roll and CoSIDA All-Academic team.     (photo via West Life)   “For the last two decades, I have been able to live my passion by helping student-athletes develop & reach their full potential on and off the field. I am thrilled for the opportunity to continue this as a part of the IMG Academy family,” remarked Russell. “It’s an incredibly rewarding challenge to launch a new program, and with the amazing resources, facilities, and foundation for lacrosse at IMG, we will hit the ground running.” Prior to Baldwin Wallace, Russell held coaching roles with various club programs. She took on her first head coaching position in 1996 when she became the first head coach in the history of Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio. Russell was an NCAA Division I lacrosse and field hockey student-athlete at the College of William & Mary where she earned All-American and All-Conference honors and graduated with a degree in business management. “We are excited about Kim’s experience, leadership and passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field,” remarked Scott Dean, IMG Academy Vice President and Director of Athletics. “Her vision of building a program based on investing in the student-athletes themselves aligns perfectly with our philosophy.” The fall season will include participation in non-scholastic tournaments and college recruiting showcases. The varsity team will compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) in the spring and will feature a schedule with both in- and out-of-state competition. In addition to the boarding and day school offerings, the new program features a camp schedule for girls. Students will also experience IMG Academy’s unique integrative academic and athletic approach. The program features a college preparatory education, combined with sport-specific training and athletic and personal development in disciplines like strength and conditioning, mental conditioning, nutrition, leadership, vision training, athletic body management and life skills. These disciplines are housed in the state-of-the-art 56,000 square foot Performance and Sport Science Center, which is home to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital physical therapy and rehab center. IMG Academy launched its varsity boys lacrosse program in 2012, and in its first five seasons has produced 14 Under Armour All-Americans and sent more than 60% of its student-athletes to Division I programs. The program finished the 2015 and 2016 seasons with top-10 rankings in the USA Today Super 25, and earned a berth in the inaugural GEICO Lacrosse High School Nationals this year after an 11-1 regular season. Russell will assume her new role August 1. Russell has four children, Maddie (22), Sam (20), Anna (17) and Charlie (12). For more information about the IMG Academy Lacrosse Program, click here for boarding and day school and here for camps. For specific questions on how to apply for the boarding and day school program, contact: Ariana Andis-Klein, ariana.andis-klein@img. For specific questions on how to register for our camp programs, call 1-800-872-6425.   About IMG Academy IMG Academy is one of the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and educational institutions. IMG Academy helps countless youth, adult, collegiate and professional athletes reach their full potential in and out of sport by providing world-class teaching and coaching, tailored programs and professional facilities. IMG Academy also serves as a training and competition venue for amateur and professional teams, a host site for a variety of events, and a hub for sports performance research and innovation.    

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