Former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell has been removed as football coach at his high school in Mobile, Alabama, after being sued for allegedly misappropriating money he received as a school donation for his own use. According to WKRG Sports
“JaMarcus Russell was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties at Williamson High School last fall,” a Mobile County Public Schools official told WKRG.
According to court documents, Russell, 38, allegedly received a check for $74,000 from local business owner Chris Knowles to donate to the Williamson High School football team to help purchase weight training equipment for the team.
He coaches the school’s soccer team. AP
Russell allegedly deposited the check at the credit union and withdrew $55,000 of the allocated amount, so the school never received any of the money from Knowles.
Knowles told WKRG that he stopped payment of the $74,000 check after Russell refused to provide donation receipts and stopped answering his phones.
The credit union granted Russell the money as a loan at his request.
Since then, the school has barred Russell from campus and from speaking to the football team, where he was a star player before going on to Louisiana State University.
The school could not confirm to WKRG whether the lawsuit was a factor in Russell’s firing.
However, he attended a football team event this week and was reportedly quickly told he was not welcome.
“Earlier this week, Mr. Russell was once again informed that he is no longer permitted to be involved in the football program or on school property,” the school district told WKRG.
Russell has been known as one of the biggest flops in NFL history since being selected first overall by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft.
After just three losing seasons under head coach Tom Cable, Russell was suddenly out of luck as no team wanted to sign him.
He started 25 games and finished his career with a 7-18 record, completing 52.1 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 31 games.
