UPPER SANDUSKY, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A head football coach is “on the scoreboard” after being named Coach of the Month sponsored by Lewis Family McDonald’s.
Russell Hall, head football coach for the Upper Sandusky Exempted Village Schools, said he was surprised but also honored when he found out about the Coach of the Month award.
“I try to do things the right way, work hard, and be an example for other people,” said Hall, who’s in his ninth season at the helm. “It’s awesome to be recognized in someone else’s eyes for doing it, that’s for sure.”
Hall, 44, was nominated by one of his players, junior Carson Rowland, who serves on the Leadership Team for the squad. Hall said that group even meets in the off-season to do community service projects for organizations around town.
Now in his 19th year with Upper Sandusky, Hall is no stranger to the gridiron. He previously served 10 years as an assistant coach for the Rams and was also the middle school coach for a year.
A native of Tiffin, Hall played football in middle school and at Tiffin Calvert High School both on the offensive and defensive lines. He was also a defensive end at Heidelberg University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 2005.
Hall immediately landed a teaching job with Upper Sandusky, first at the middle school and then as a high school social studies teacher. “From a young age I wanted to be a teacher. I was also fortunate to have a lot of good coaches in my athletic career.”
Hall admitted that growing up on a farm with his three brothers taught him to appreciate the value of hard work, doing things the right way, and being committed to “doing the task – no matter how big, small, easy, hard.”
During his coaching career, Hall said, the football program has racked up a few successful seasons. The Rams made the playoffs in 2022 and 2024 and are off to a 2-1 start this season, second in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference.
Hall said one of his greatest rewards as a coach is witnessing the development of his players, both on and off the field. “What I like the most in seeing individual growth and seeing them develop from their freshmen year until they graduate.”
“I’m just really pleased to see their maturity and dedication to be great men. It’s not just the growth physically and mentally,” he said. “It’s also an honor to know I’ve had a hand in that.”