Coach Russell is in her 24th year as head coach of the Lady Flames. She has proven to be a winner, just like she was as a record-setting pitcher for the Lee University softball team 27 seasons ago. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Lee, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Already the winningest coach in the history of Lee softball, Coach Russell reached a major milestone in her career on April 15 (2023) when the Lady Flames defeated longtime rival Union University 7-0 for her 700th win. At the time her overall record stood at 724 wins against 430 defeats and one tie. She has directed her teams to six seasons of 40 or more wins, two of those with more than 50 wins.
The 2025 team posted a .500 overall season mark (25-25) and 12-20 in rugged GSC play. Coach Russell’s total record is at a strong 749-455-1. She is currently the winningest head coach on the Lee staff, just ahead of baseball’s Mark Brew who has 734 victories.
Three seniors were named to the All-Gulf South Conference teams. Ana Macha and Alexa Scalzo were named to the First Team while Javaria Smith was on the second team. For the first time Lee had two players Scalzo and Macha named to the Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-South Region First Team. Macha was also a National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-Region player as well.
Lee softball team had five players named to the 2024-25 Academic All-District Teams for their excellence in the classroom. The 2025 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom.
For the Lady Flames, Madison Barnett, Rylie Goodridge, Natalie Pruitt-Geesey, Alexa Scalzo, and Hailey Simco were selected. Barnett had a 4.0 GPA in graduate school this year. Goodridge had a 3.7 GPA. Pruitt-Geesey had a 4.0 GPA this year in graduate school. Scalzo had a 3.60 GPA in marketing and Simco has a 3.93 GPA in Liberal Studies.
The Lady Flames had four hitters post batting averages of over .300 as Russell’s club finished the 2024 season with a 20-27 mark and 14-16 in the rugged GSC. Juniors Alexa Scalzo and Javaria Smith led the way with .384 averages. Scalzo was also tops on the club with 61 hits and scoring 56 runs. She also stole 32 bases in 33 attempts. Smith had a team-leading 41 RBI.
Coach Russell will miss one of last season’s seniors, Laney Harris batted .362 with a team-leading nine homers.
Freshman Hailey Somco was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year. A true utility player, she was used as an outfielder, catcher, and a designated player. Hailey paced the team with 16 doubles and carried a .294 batting average.
The year 2023 saw her team drop several games in the last innings and finish the season at 15-34. A pair of promising sophomores received honors. Sidney Lee earned a spot on the All-GSC team for the second consecutive year and Ana Macha received the same reward. In fact, there were only three seniors on the 2023 roster.
The 2022 club completed the season with a 29-23 record and were 17-12 against rugged Gulf South Conference opponents. The Lady Flames made their deepest run-ever in the GSC tournament, falling to Alabama Huntsville in the semifinal round. Taylor De Adder and Sidney Lee earned spots on the NCAA DII All-South Region and All-GSC teams while Javaria Smith was named the GSC Freshman of the Year. She was joined on the All-GSC team by Nyah Vogel and Bre Patton.
The Lady Flames finished the 2021 season with a 17-23 overall mark and 14-16 in GSC play. Kayla Louie and Taylor De Adder were named All-GSC Second Team.
The 2020 season suddenly ended when the NCAA ordered play halted due to the Covid19 virus. The season closed with the Lady Flames holding a 13-10 overall mark and standing 4-5 in the Gulf South Conference standing.
In 2019 her Lady Flames were forced to battle an unusual number of injuries to key players and finished at 22-31 overall and 10-19 in Gulf South Conference play. During the year 2018 her club posted a 28-28 mark.
In 2017, Russell's club ended with a 36-20 mark and advanced all the way to the NCAA South Super Regional before falling to No. 5 and fellow Gulf South Conference member West Florida. It was the first trip to the NCAA Championship stage in program history.
The Lady Flames ended the record-setting season ranked No. 15 in the final NFCA Top 25 poll, marking their first ever NCAA ranking. Lee won the South Region 2 Bracket with three straight victories over GSC rivals. The Lady Flames defeated Alabama Huntsville (7-4) and defending national champion North Alabama twice (4-2, 3-2) to advance on as one of the final 16 teams in the NCAA D2 National Tournament.
In 2015 the Lady Flames finished 36-19 and 18-11 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee won the NCCAA Mid-East Region Tournament and finished third in the NCCAA World Series. For the third straight year Russell coached the national player of the year as Kaylie Drew won the honor (NCCAA) after smashing 18 home runs for the Lady Flames.
Russell led the Lady Flames into NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference in 2014. Lee finished with a record of 25-24 and had a conference mark of 13-14. Russell coached the NCCAA Player of the Year in Ana Coscorrosa. The power hitting Venezuelan set school career marks in batting average (.451), RBI (231) and hits (275).
In 2010, Russell's Lady Flames earned a 57-5 record, finishing as the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) regular season and tournament champions, on their way to a No. 2 NAIA National Ranking.
That same year, the Lee ladies also competed in the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 2007, their sixth trip overall. For their outstanding season, Coach Russell was named the SSAC Coach of the Year.
Russell directed the Lady Flames to the SSAC regular season and tournament crowns in 2006, finishing the season with a sparkling record of 55-14. The 2005 Lady Flames finished second in the SSAC regular season, third in the SSAC tournament, and fourth in the NAIA Region XIII Tournament.
In 2004, Coach Russell led her team to the school's first TranSouth Tournament Championship, an NAIA Region XI championship, and the program's third trip to the NAIA National Tournament. For their success, Russell and her staff were named the 2004 NAIA-Softball Coaches Association's Coaching Staff of the Year.
While pitching at Lee, Russell hurled an amazing 305 innings during the 2000 season. She struck out 194 hitters in those 305 innings, at that time a school record. After her playing days for the Lady Flames, she traveled to Europe and pitched professionally for two summers.
The Lee coach makes her home in Cleveland and is married to Sean Russell. The couple has two sons, Tyson and Carson.
