Carol Russell- Coach and Mother
She gave birth and helped coach the University of Nebraska at Kearney Women’s Basketball team in one day.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – About five hours after giving birth to her first child, University of Nebraska at Kearney women’s basketball coach Carol Russell was out of the hospital and on the bench to help coach her players in the North Central Region basketball tournament.
“I could have watched the Webcast, but I wanted to be there for the girls because they’ve been working so hard for this all year,” Russell said.
The University of North Dakota beat the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers 108-75 for the regional championship Monday night, to advance to the
NCAA Division II tournament in Kearney, Neb.Russell said her team seemed tired in the second half. And being tired was something she could relate to.
“I usually stand up the whole game, but I didn’t have the energy,” said Russell, 35, who’s in her fifth year as head coach.
Russell had permission from doctors to attend the game. She arrived at the game early in the first half and sat on the team bench. Assistant coach Tim Connealy took over most of the coaching duties while Russell said she provided mostly “input and encouragement.”
“I was about three minutes late,” Russell said. “I’m always on my kids about being late, but I guess they understood why I was.”
Russell said her arrival at the game caused double takes by players, coaches and referees, who knew she had just had a baby.
Newborn Isaac bounced in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces.
“She comes to town, has a baby and goes back to coach the game,” said Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown, an obstetrician who was one of Russell’s doctors at Altru Hospital.
“She was due, so she hand-carried her OB records with her to travel,” Brown said. “It makes you smile.”
Russell said she gave birth at about 1:45 p.m. Monday.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the game at that point,” she said. “It’s the birth of my first child, so obviously that came first.”
But shortly before game time, “I started feeling better,” she said, and decided to go to the game.
Russell said hospital officials gave Isaac some UND Fighting Sioux outfits.
“We’re honored the baby chose our community,” said Brown, the city’s mayor.
Russell was slated to check out of the Grand Forks hospital on Tuesday afternoon. She planned to fly back to Nebraska with her team, her husband and Isaac. But she said the baby wouldn’t be dressed in his new North Dakota baby clothes.
“That might be a little salt in wounds for my players, so I doubt it,” Russell said.
Isaac may have a permanent reminder about his time in North Dakota, Russell said.
“My family is kidding me about naming him Dakota,” Russell said. “We’re still searching for a middle name, and that’s an option.”
One very dedicated woman. Congratulation Ms. Russell and God bless you and your son.
- Will the University of Minnesota drop out of the Big 10?
- Univ. of North Dakota to retire Fighting Sioux nickname
- Tennis Star Lindsay Davenport has a Baby Boy
- Frozen Four Field Set
- NCAA Nicknames
- North Dakota to sue NCAA over nickname
- Lindsay Davenport wins the Bali Open
- Have a baby, Play at the Masters
- Erk Russell, Junkyard Dawg, Killed in Car Crash
- New York Knicks fire Larry Brown
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
Comments are Closed