2008 Inductee Russ Kuhns, 1998
Russell Kuhns typified the modern-day three sport athlete during his playing days at Bellevue Senior High School – physically gifted, a hard worker, and dedicated to making himself better day in and day out.
Kuhns, a 1998 graduate of BSHS, went on to earn nine varsity letters in the sports of football, wrestling, and track and field. He would concentrate on football while attending college, and would continue to excel in a sport he continues to be involved with during present day.
Kuhns was one of the hardest hitting and hardest working football players to suit up for the Redmen. After being crowned as sophomore conditioning champion in 1995, he earned honorable mention All-Northern Ohio League defense that same season. Then, in 1996, he was a member of the school’s first-ever regional championship team. He was also named first team All-NOL defense, first team All-District defense, and second team All-Ohio defense. He captained the Redmen during his senior season in 1997, was first team All-NOL on both offense and defense, was first team All-District on both offense and defense and was District Player of the Year, was the team MVP, was first team All-Ohio on offense, and broke the Redmen single-season rushing record with 1,716 total yards in 10 regular season games. He led the Redmen to back-to-back NOL championships his junior and senior seasons.
In wrestling, Kuhns was a two-time captain in 1997 and 1998. He participated on three straight NOL championship teams. During his sophomore season, he placed third in the NOL, was sectional champion, placed fifth at the regionals, and was a state qualifier. During his junior campaign, he was second in the NOL and finished 22-2 overall before injuring his knee. He still managed to take third place at the Ohio Duals that same season. Then, in his senior year, he was undefeated throughout the regular season and counted over 200 takedowns. He was NOL and sectional champ, regional runner-up, and placed fifth at the state meet. He was named MVP that senior season.
Finally, in track and field, he captained the 1998 team and was two-time NOL champ in the discus. He was also a member of the 4 x 100 relay NOL champion and regional qualifying team in 1998, a squad that set the school record in that event. He was also a regional qualifier in the discus in 1998 and was team MVP.
Kuhns attended Findlay College and lettered in 1998 as a running back and special teams player. He was named Rookie of the Year for the Oilers after earning his first college football letter. He then transferred to the University of Wisconsin where he was named defensive scout player in 1999. He was a walk-on for the Badgers and earned a scholarship for the 2000-02 seasons. He lettered three years and was All-Academic Big Ten in 2000 and was a member of three bowl teams, including the Rose Bowl, Sun Bowl, and Alamo Bowl.
Russ was then a graduate assistant football coach at Bowling Green from 2005-07, then became the offensive line and strength and conditioning coach for Western New Mexico University, positions he still holds today. He coached three all-conference offensive linemen in 2007.
Russ resides in Silver City, New Mexico.