HOUGHTON - Jamie Russell didn't look like a man who had just given up his job as he cleaned out his office on Thursday.
The now former head coach at Michigan Tech - he resigned Wednesday - was his usual calm and reserved self. He even had a smile on his face despite all the tumult he has endured over the past several months.
And that smile says a lot about the man. Because he had to be hurting after giving up the top job at his alma mater.
The Russell era did have a couple of good years. The Huskies won a combined 32 games in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and made the 2007 WCHA Final Five.
But those two good seasons weren't nearly enough. And the past three years things have gotten significantly worse.
So Russell is leaving the post he holds close behind. And he seems to have come to terms with his decision.
"The best memories are of the players and the guys I've worked with, that's what I'll remember," Russell said. "Successes, obviously, there weren't enough of them.
"We had a big rebuilding job to do when I took over. We got things going and made the Final Five. Some of the kids that we recruited (Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Jake Hauswirth) but didn't land here hurt.
"Who knows what kind of college players they would have been, but I think they turned pro too early. Over the last three years we've had a lot of injuries to deal with, but the players did a great job handling the adversity."
The players that Russell is leaving behind are now in need of a new coach. And the search for him has already been set in motion.
"The national search will begin immediately, there's already been a few phone calls," Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret said. "We will officially post it (the coaching position) on Monday.
"We will conduct the search very thoroughly. Of course we want to get someone in here as soon as possible, but we will take our time to make sure we get the right person, so that we can ensure the future success of the program."
But will the school be willing to put up the money needed to bring in a big-name coach. According to Sanregret, finances should not be an issue.
"I'm very fortunate (Tech President) Glenn Mroz understands the big picture of things and he's given me the authority to use resources to go after the best coach," Sanregret said. "We're also fortunate that we have many alums who understand that as well, so the commitment is there as well as the resources."
