LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern University Director of Athletics Drew Watson announced today the hiring of
Jake Russell as the fourth head football coach in program history, bringing a proven resume of competitive success, postseason experience, and program-building leadership to Fire Football.
"After an extensive search, it became clear that
Jake Russell is the ideal leader to guide the next chapter of Fire Football," said Watson. "Jake's track record of competitive success and postseason experience speaks for itself, but when combined with his unwavering commitment to the spiritual and academic development of his student-athletes, it makes him a perfect fit for SEU. We are excited to welcome Jake and his family back to Florida and look forward to seeing him build upon the strong foundation our program has established."
Russell expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the Fire and build upon the program's foundation.
"My family and I are excited to be joining Southeastern University," said Russell. "We are thankful to SEU President Dr. Kent Ingle for the opportunity and feel blessed to be at a place where leading a Christ-centered football program is not only possible, but encouraged and enhanced. The mission is to use the game of football as a platform to share Christ both within and outside of our program.
"On the field, the focus will be to build on the success of the past by sustaining a standard of dominance made possible through a level of hard work, discipline, and selfless sacrifice that sets Fire Football apart."
Russell arrives at Southeastern following a highly successful three-year tenure as head coach at Campbellsville University, where he led the Fighting Tigers back to national relevance. The 2025 season marked a historic campaign for Campbellsville, finishing 8–3 overall, earning an at-large berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series as the No. 12 seed, and advancing to the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Tigers closed the year ranked No. 11 in the final NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll, their highest national finish in a decade.
Across Russell's three seasons at Campbellsville, the Tigers posted steady year-over-year success, including a 9–2 record in 2024 and an overall mark of 21–11. His teams were defined by balance and consistency, combining explosive offensive production with tough, opportunistic defense while also emphasizing academic achievement and culture. The 2025 roster featured 15 All-Conference selections and 23 Academic All-Conference honorees, reflecting a foundation built for sustained success.
Prior to Campbellsville, Russell served as head coach at Kentucky Christian University, where he engineered significant improvement on both sides of the ball. From his first to second season, the Knights improved nationally in every major offensive statistical category and finished the 2022 season with the second-most points and yards in program history. Defensively, Kentucky Christian ranked first nationally in pass defense in 2021, fourth in turnovers forced in 2022, and fifth in defensive touchdowns, establishing a reputation for disruptive, aggressive play.
Russell also served as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at Union College, where he helped elevate the Bulldogs from 89th to 34th nationally in points per game and from 80th to 31st in total offense per game over two seasons. He began his collegiate coaching career as quarterbacks coach at Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida.
A 2016 graduate of Campbellsville University, Russell earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management while starring as the Fighting Tigers' quarterback during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He ranks second in program history in career passing yards (6,703) and career passing touchdowns (66), and holds the school's single-season record with 38 touchdown passes in 2015, providing a quarterback-centric foundation that has shaped his offensive philosophy and player development approach.
Russell's career has also been marked by a deep commitment to faith-based leadership and ministry. He has led Bible studies with every team he has played for or coached and established and oversaw a Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at Union College, growing weekly attendance from eight to more than 40 members. Russell has participated in numerous domestic and international mission trips, including service efforts in prisons, Alaska, Belize, and the Dominican Republic, and has helped organize and support ministry initiatives connected to athletics. He remains actively involved in church life and community outreach, with a consistent emphasis on servant leadership, discipleship, and character development within his football programs.
The Fire enter this next chapter following one of the most successful seasons in program history. Southeastern posted a program-record nine wins during the 2025 campaign and earned the first postseason victory in school history, continuing a stretch of steady year-to-year growth that has positioned the program among the NAIA's rising contenders.
