Conference USA is mourning the loss of longtime Assistant Commissioner Russell Anderson, who passed away suddenly April 5 at the age of 50. Anderson had recently been honored by his colleagues for 25 years of service with the league.
The In Memory of RDA page (link below) includes sentiments and information about visitation, Celebration of Life (#RDAday - April 30) and the Russell D. Anderson Memorial Fund.
In Memory of Russell D. Anderson
Russell Anderson has been a part of Conference USA since the league's inception in 1995. He began as Assistant Director of Communications, was promoted to Director of Media Relations in 1998 and Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations in 2003. In July, 2006, Anderson was named Assistant Commissioner for Football and Baseball Operations.
Anderson's responsibilities include serving as the primary media contact for football and baseball. He is responsible for all publicity efforts in these two sports, including media guides, press releases, teleconferences, website information, working with television personnel covering these sports and coordinating media operations at the Conference USA Football Championship Game and the C-USA Baseball Championship.
In addition to media relations responsibilities, Anderson works with baseball and football scheduling, maintaining sport regulations, assisting with officiating matters and serving as a liaison to the conference coaches in football and baseball.
Anderson is actively involved with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), currently serving as its Associate Executive Director. He has served as that organization's Secretary/Treasurer since 1996 and spent 2001 as the NCBWA's President. In this role, Anderson is responsible for all financial issues related to the NCBWA, coordinates all membership matters and is involved with corporate sponsorship fulfillment.
In 2002, Anderson received the Wilbur Snypp Award, given to a person for their outstanding contributions to college baseball.
In addition to his Conference USA experience, Anderson has served on the media relations staffs of five CFP National Championship Games, four BCS National Championship games, nine Cotton Bowls and the Independence, Florida Citrus and Sugar Bowls. He has worked 21 NCAA Men's Basketball Regionals and was part of the media relations team at the 1999 Final Four in St. Petersburg, Fla. and 2014 Final Four in North Texas. Anderson has also done freelance work for the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.
A native of Downers Grove, Ill., Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in Organizational Communication from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in June, 1993. Currently a resident of Irving, Texas, he lists his greatest moment in sports as being at game four of the 2005 World Series in Houston to watch his beloved Chicago White Sox win their first World Series in 88 years.