Andy Russo of Louisiana Tech Is Named to Succeed Harshman as Washington Coach
Louisiana Tech’s Andy Russo was named basketball coach at the University of Washington Wednesday, concluding a yearlong search by the school for a successor to Marv Harshman.
Harshman, 67, is retiring after 40 years as a head coach at Pacific Lutheran, Washington State and Washington, leaving college basketball as the seventh winningest coach with a career record of 642-448.
Russo, 36, had a 122-55 mark in six seasons at Louisiana Tech and took each of his last two teams into the NCAA tournament. This season, he coached his team at the Ruston, La., school to a 29-3 record and the Southland Conference championship.
“I think he (Russo) is one of the finest young coaches in the country,” Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Bob Vanatta said. “He helped build up our program to national prominence. Whatever he does, he is going to be very successful.”
Just 10 years ago, the Lake Forest (Ill.) College graduate was coaching a ninth-grade basketball team in the Chicago area.
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