Baseball

Head Coach Kurt Russell enters his tenth year at the helm of the Western Oklahoma baseball program with a career record of 353-132 (73%) at the school. His reputation for developing hitters and being able to turn programs into championship contenders, through discipline and a blue collar style of play, has followed Russell to Western. Russell has been able to see many milestones during his time in Altus including the program's first Region II Championship, District Championship, World Series appearance, 50 win season,  National Player of the Year in Juan Carlos Perez, and National Championship. This level of success and the personal relationship with his players is what keeps drawing some of the country's top talent to Western Oklahoma State College.

Each year the list of accolades that the program, and the players, recieve continues to grow. The 2011 season would see WOSC capture the school's first National Championship. The title marked the first time an Oklahoma junior college would be crowned National Champions since Bacone College accomplished the feat in 1967, a span of 44 years. Under Russell's tutelege, the Pioneers would once against lead the country in hitting and would produce the second National Player of the Year, Jhiomar Veras, in the past 4 seasons. Over the past 4 seasons, Western has led the country in winning percentage (210-49  81%) while making their fourth consecutive appearance in the NJCAA World Series and fourth consecutive 50 win season; the longest such streaks in the country at this level.  The program has produced 9 All Americans and 31 professional players since 2004. WOSC had their highest total of draftees and signees in 2010 with 8 total, a team that featured 2nd round draft choice Andrelton Simmons. The facilities at Pioneer Park have seen dramatic changes since Russell arrived on campus and Western now boasts some of the best facilities in the state. Always one to deflect personal accolades in praise of the players and fellow coaches, Russell has been named Region Coach of the Year five times, District Coach of the Year four times, and was the 2011 National Coach of the Year.

Prior to coming to Western, Russell was the Head Coach at Ayer High School in Ayer, Massachusetts. After years without putting a winning baseball team on the field, Ayer H.S. would go on to post an overall record of 40-20 in Russell’s three years. In 2001, Ayer would go on to win the school’s first conference championship in 33 years. As a player, Russell played two years at Western where he earned All Region honors for his efforts under current Western Athletic Director Bob Pearson. He also went on to play under the legendary Gary Vaught at the University of Indianapolis where the team would go on to set school records for wins, homeruns, and stolen bases en route to a 46-17 record and a #4 National Ranking. He finished his collegiate career at Phillips University. Russell went on to earn a B.S. in Health & Fitness Education from Madison University. Coach Russell is married to the former Priscilla Lopez of Olustee, OK. The couple has two boys, Isaiah and Craig, and a daughter named Payton.