Andy Russo
2025 Finalist
New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame
Basketball, 1956-78
Fortier HS/USL/St. Aloysius HS/Brother Martin HS
Photo Courtesy of Brother Martin High School.
As a high school player (1956-59), Russo was a three-year starter and an all-state selection along with future Kentucky star Cotton Nash in 1959 out of Fortier High, helping the school to a state (AAA) runner-up finish in 1959. He attended Central Florida JC where he led the nation in scoring at 28 points per game and then signed with the USL Bulldogs and earned second-team All-Gulf States Conference honors during his career there from 1961 to 63.
He served as the head coach at Fatima High School (1965-68) in Lafayette before returning to New Orleans as the head coach at St. Aloysius/Brother Martin from 1967-73. As a high school coach, Russo had a 252-48 career record. His teams made the Top 20 five times, winning two state titles, twice being in the state finals and winning one national championship. He coached the last two St. Aloysius teams (1967-68 and 1968-69) making the state finals in 1969. He then coached the first four Brother Martin teams (1969-73), making the Top 20 Tournament all four years. His 1969-70 team posted a perfect 36-0 record and won the state championship as well as being recognized as national champions. The Crusaders followed that with a second straight title in 1970-71, taking down Woodlawn High and Robert Parish for the state championship.
After posting a 31-5 record in 1972-73, he left Brother Martin to move into the college ranks and spent five years (1973-78) as an assistant at Jacksonville University, helping it to an appearance in the NIT Semifinals in his first year.
