Cindy Russo retires after 36 years as women’s basketball head coach


CoachRusso28SL_131229_D3S518929By Joel Delgado ’12 MS ’17 

FIU women’s basketball coach Cindy Russo has called it a career.

After 36 years on the sidelines, Russo stepped down on Thursday, Jan. 22 and retires as one of the most illustrious coaches in NCAA women’s basketball history.

Russo took over as FIU’s head coach in 1977, just three years after the program’s inception. After leaving to coach Lamar for two seasons, she returned to FIU in 1980 and has led the program ever since.

“FIU and I grew up together,” Russo told FIUSports.com. “I came to Miami when I was young and came to FIU when the program was brand new. It has been a part of me for most of my life.”

Dealing with recent health issues and her mother’s passing in December, Russo decided it was time to step aside.

“For the first time in my life, I am putting myself first,” Russo said. “My health has been compromised for a long time now. It has been difficult to get up and move around. Basketball season is a long, stressful season that can suck you in with the demanding schedule. I just didn’t feel like I had the physical and mental capacity to keep going.”

At FIU, Russo compiled a 667-371 record at FIU and finishes with an overall head coaching record of 707-391. Her 707 wins rank 15th all-time in Division I women’s basketball history.

Under her watch, FIU women’s basketball enjoyed 22 consecutive winning seasons from 1981 to 2003 in addition to six NCAA tournament berths and seven WNIT appearances.

She also coached seven All-Americans at FIU, including Jerica Coley, who finished her career in 2014 and finished fifth on the NCAA’s Division I women’s career scoring list.

Long-time Associate Head Coach Inge Nissen, who has been at FIU for 26 seasons, will assume the head coaching duties while a national search for the Panthers’ next head basketball coach begins.

For more information on Cindy Russo and FIU Women’s Basketball, go to FIUSports.com.