Andy Russo

				Hometown: Manalapan, N.J. Position: Assistant Coach At St. John's: Third Season

Andy Russo enters his fourth season with the St. John's softball program, serving as a Red Storm's infield coach while also working with hitters.

In 2010, Russo helped the St. John's offense make major strides. The Red Storm batted .272 as a team, a big improvement over its .250 team mark from 2009. With Russo's help, 2010 NFCA Division I All-Great Lakes Region and All-BIG EAST Second Team selection Kacee Cox saw her batting average jump from .255 in 2009 to .404 in 2010. Kristi Cady (.197 BA in 2009, .300 BA in 2010) and Julia Sanchez (.187 BA in 2009, .280 BA in 2010) also improved at the plate under Russo's direction.

Russo's off-field duties include recruiting, scouting opponents, reviewing game and practice film, monitoring the players' academic performance and maintaining the team's social networking presence.

In 2008, Russo served as a volunteer assistant at Long Island University in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Russo is also founder and current board member of the Central Jersey Tornado Girls Fastpitch Softball Organization (CJTSO), a non-profit organization geared for players 18 and under. As a head coach in the organization for 12 years, Russo has coached many players who have continued their softball careers on the collegiate level.

Russo currently resides in Manalapan, N.J., with his wife Andrea, daughter Sam and son Joe.