Codi Russell, a 2021 Appalachian State graduate, joined the Blue Devils in August of 2025, after spending the last two years as an assistant coach at Hofstra. He has also spent time at Army West Point and at the Minion Training Center as a coach following his time in Boone.Â
A standout wrestler at Appalachian State, Russell was a four-time NCAA Championship qualifier and three-time Southern Conference Champion. Russell, who wrestled at 125 and 133 pounds, was a five-time conference finalist and posted 94 career wins during his tenure. He was also a four-year team captain for the Mountaineers and served as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
After finishing his eligibility following the 2021-22 academic year, Russell joined the staff at the Minion Training Center, where he was responsible for coaching youth, middle school and high school-level wrestling skills. He developed training protocols for elite level wrestlers and recruited wrestlers from the southeast to join the nationally ranked Minion dual teams.
A Georgia native, Russell starred at Collins High School in Lawrenceville, where he was a state champion as a senior and a four-time place winner. He recorded 230 career wins and was the NHSCA Senior National Champion.Â
Russell earned his degree in recreational management with a concentration in parks, recreation, and tourism, while minoring in coaching at ASU.