CHESHIRE, Mass. -- Mike Russo says he is looking forward this fall to coaching soccer ... and just coaching soccer.

 

"The recruiting is gone, and I don't miss that at all," Russo said Wednesday about taking over the boys team at Hoosac Valley Middle and High School. "It gives me an opportunity to teach and coach."

 

Russo did a great job at both -- and recruiting, too -- for 36 years at Williams College, where he retired after the 2014 season.

 

Through colleague Blair Dils, the head boys coach at Mount Greylock, Russo became aware of an opening at Hoosac Valley and decided to look into it.

 

"I guess I could play golf every day, but I have no interest in that," he said.

 

"They've been very nice there. They've more than welcomed me."

 

Russo brings a resume you don't often see in first-time high school coaches.

 

At Williams, he took the Ephs to a national championship (1995) and five NCAA Division III Final Fours, most recently in 2012. He compiled a record of 438-116-60 (.762) and coached four players who went on to play for their national teams, including two who played for Team USA.

 

At Hoosac Valley, player development will be Russo's top priority at Hoosac (2-8-8 last fall).

 

"I like to see players improve in any sport," he said. "It gives me satisifaction. The focus will be on player development more than winning.

 

"Hopefully, that results in a few more wins, too."

 

Russo is familiar with the local high school soccer team through his efforts to promote and teach the beautiful game at the youth level. In the 1990s, he founded the Berkshire Ajax Soccer Club, which draws players from three states to receive instruction from Ajax coaches, a group who includes Williams and MCLA and Southern Vermont College assistant coaches.

 

When Russo was recognized at June's Williams College Commencement exercises, Williams President Adam Falk commented on the retiring coach's impact on the larger community.

 

"You have also been the godfather of soccer regionally," Falk said. :No one has done more to promote youth soccer in the area, and there is not a youth player, boy or girl, within miles of here who has not benefited directly or indirectly from your devotion.

 

"All in all, this is quite a legacy."

 

Russo said he recognizes that at Hoosac, he will not always be dealing with the highly motivated, soccer-centric student-athletes that one finds at a top collegiate program. He is aware that some players will be playing soccer in the fall because basketball is only offered in the winter or baseball is only offered in the spring.

 

And he is OK with that.

 

"If it's done properly, one can turn kids on to the sport of soccer," Russo said. "There are a lot of intricacies of the game people don't understand. If taught properly and coached properly in a positive manner, we can turn more people on to the game."

 

And Russo knows there are some returning Hurricanes who are committed to soccer. Rising juniors Steve Crouch and Colin Rousseau both played in the Ajax program in the spring, he said.

 

"Colin Rousseau is also a point guard on a very good basketball team," Russo said. "He came to soccer camp and worked as an instructor.

 

"Soccer and basketball, especially, complement each other very well because of the natures of the sports."