Joe Russell was an accomplished high school wrestler and a defending national junior champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling when a motorcycle accident left him fighting for his life. Doctors told his parents that, if he survived, the damage to his body and his brain were so severe that he would never walk again.

But the doctors didn't understand the will of a wrestler.

Not only did Russell walk again, he fought through years of therapy to wrestle and serve as team captain for the University of Minnesota, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Academic Team along the way. He was honored with the team's Fraser Dean Most Courageous Wrestler award.

Russell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 and completed his juris doctorate in the spring of 1995, making the Dean's List his last two years. He is a licensed attorney and graduated with a master's degree in sports management in December of 2006.

For the last 11 years, Russell has served as an assistant wrestling coach for the Golden Gophers, helping guide the team to eight top-three finishes in the last 10 years, and the 2007 NCAA championship.

He has also coached the Minnesota Storm, developing numerous age-group national champions and All-Americans and winning four FILA Junior National Team titles and has had numerous international coaching assignments with USA Wrestling. In 1999, USA Wrestling honored him as its FILA Junior/University Person of the Year for his leadership within the organization in these age-level programs.

Overcoming extreme physical challenges, Joe Russell has fashioned an outstanding career as a college wrestling coach and attorney and has served as a tremendous example of human courage.