Woodbridge’s Russo off to brilliant start
First-year coach leads his team beyond
expectations
BY VIN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Woodbridge High School head football coach Brian Russo has a word with his quarterback, Bryan Casey, during Thursday’s practice at the high school.

Twenty-five-year-old Woodbridge High School football coach Brian Russo has proven to be the right man for the job.

In his first year as head coach, he has led the Barrons to the semifinals of the North Jersey 2 Group IV playoffs, and a record of 7-2.

After opening their season by losing their first two games (to Old Bridge and Sayreville), the Barrons have run off seven straight wins, including last weekend’s win over Bayonne in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. Another of those wins came in overtime over Piscataway, a team riding a 16-game winning streak. That win provided the highlight of what has been a remarkable season for the Barrons. Up until last week, anyway.

"This season has been such a dream," said Russo. "Just unbelievable."

The Barrons, who hosted Piscataway on Friday in the semifinals and will take on Colonia Thursday in the annual Thanksgiving rivalry, have already exceeded expectations this year, having become the team nobody wants to play in the postseason.

While he may be hesitant to admit it, all of the team’s success starts with its new coach.

Russo interviewed for the head coach position at his alma mater the day before his wedding, and entered the process with doubts because of his age. But upon his return from his honeymoon, he was given the good news.

"I wasn’t sure I’d get the job," he said. "This is a very high-profile job, and there are so many people out there and I just wasn’t sure."

Russo has been around football his entire life, having played for the Barrons, and later going on to play and become captain for the Division IAA Wagner College team. At Wagner, he started as a linebacker then moved to nose guard.

Russo knew all through college that he wanted to teach and coach. He began at Woodbridge as the defensive line and running back coach, but when the position opened up for head coach, he felt like he would be the right man for the job.

"Billy Niers, who was my coach, had a lot of faith in me," said Russo. "I’ve always had my sights set on coaching and teaching. It’s a job that takes so much responsibility, but everyone has been so supportive of me this year, especially (Athletic Director) Martin Scarano and Principal (Arthur Lee) Warren."

Niers was Russo’s coach when he played for Woodbridge and took Russo on as one of his assistant coaches for two years. Russo attributes much of his recent success to coach Niers, as well as his coach at Wagner College, Henry Quinlin.

"I had some great coaches along the way," he said. "A good coach can really instill pride, and they are great motivational speakers."

Motivation and pride are two things that Russo now focuses on as head coach.

"I love to see the kids smile and I really like to make them feel like they can accomplish anything," he said.

Russo’s new wife, Heather, has also helped him get to the position he is in today.

"The wife of a head coach has to put up with so much," said Russo. "She’s been by my side the whole time."

Russo is not willing to take all the credit for this season’s success. He leads a young coaching staff whose strength has been its willingness to adapt to, and work with, new ideas.

"We’ve been using a lot of the ideas my coaches used in college," said Russo. "The kids are really benefiting from this young staff."

Russo stressed that the No. 1 reason the team is where it is at is the players.

"As much as we work, the bottom line is, players win games," said Russo. "It’s all about them — they’ve been [role models] for the whole school."

Maybe so, but they’re taking their lead from one of the top young coaches in the Greater Middlesex Conference.