John Russo returns for his ninth season at BSM, where he coaches the Red Knights' defense and is in charge of the team's penalty-killing unit. He came to BSM in 2007 after filling a similar role on Ken Pauly's staff at Minnetonka.

In nearly 30 years as a high school coach, Russo is recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in high school hockey. He has been a member of five state tournament coaching staffs and in 2012 earned his third Section Assistant Coach of the Year award.

He has served as a head coach in the highly-regarded Upper Midwest High School Elite League and has been a part of the coaching staffs at Blake School, Orono High School and Minnetonka High School, along with three seasons as an assistant coach at Gustavus Adolphus College.

In 2015 he was named the chairman of the Hobey Baker Committee, tasked with choosing college hockey's top player.

Russo is an attorney who resides in Plymouth with his wife and family.