Jim Krajewski

jkrajewski@rgj.com

Occupation: Head coach of the Reno 1868 FC soccer team.

Why we’re watching: Russell is the first head coach of Reno’s expansion soccer team. The Reno 1868 FC is the first professional soccer team in Reno and is part of the United Soccer League. The team is affiliated with the San Jose Earthquakes of the Major Soccer League.

In addition to coaching, Russell is largely responsible for assembling the inaugural team that will play at Greater Nevada Field starting in February.

Russell played for Washington and started his professional career with the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division in 1998 and 1999. He was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2000 and played seven seasons in MLS. Six of those with the Earthquakes, where he helped the team win two MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003.

In 2008, Russell returned to the Earthquakes as an assistant coach, a position he held for eight seasons. He helped lead the club to the postseason twice, while earning the Supporters’ Shield for best regular season record (19-6-9) in 2012. Russell was also instrumental in the Quakes’ international and collegiate scouting efforts, and briefly helped oversee the club’s youth development as the academy’s technical director. He served as the Earthquakes interim head coach for the final two games of the 2014 season and holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” coaching license.

Words to Live By: “I’ve been mentored by and played for a lot really great coaches. I like playing soccer with the ball on the ground, not hitting long, bouncy long balls. You’re going to see some good technical players. We’re teaching spacing and power. There will be a good mix there.”

Goals for 2017: The goal is to have a good, solid, competitive team. He would like for some of the Reno 1868 players to get called up to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Russell also wants players who are sent to Reno from San Jose to fit in well the club and the way he intends to have the team play.

Another goal is to get the fans excited about soccer in Reno. “There’s a lot of fans in Reno, we have to make them feel that this is their team,” Russell said. “We want them to feel they are part of the process.

The Reno 1868 FC will play a preseason game against the San Jose Earthquakes at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Greater Nevada Field.

Russell and team officials have signed several players in the fall and winter, but Russell said the final roster will not be set until mid-February.