Commissioner Blake Ress today announced the resignation of Jim Russell, sports information director of the IHSAA since 1994. Russell will leave the IHSAA effective Dec. 7 to become executive director of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.

Russell is the second IHSAA staff member to serve as sports information director. He joined the staff July 1, 1994 following the retirement of Bob Williams who served the IHSAA for 10 years after a legendary newspaper career in Indianapolis. Prior to joining the IHSAA staff, Russell spent 17 years as a writer and editor at three Indiana newspapers, the last 13 years at the Indianapolis News.

Under Russell’s direction, the IHSAA significantly expanded its service to media professionals covering Indiana high school athletics. He also served as spokesman for the Association and managed the IHSAA website from its inception. Now in its sixth year, the website averages 200,000 hits a month while functioning as the primary medium for information about high school sports in Indiana.

"Jim’s contributions to the IHSAA have been significant and we will certainly miss his loyalty and dedication to the Association," said Ress. "He has been an endless source of historical knowledge. He also has been a friend as well as a colleague, and you cannot help but be elated about the opportunity he has."

In his new position, Russell, 48, will act as the chief operating officer of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. From its office in Carmel, the staff of 25 provides membership services for 6,500 undergraduates at 120 collegiate chapters across North America and an alumni body of more than 100,000.

A native of Anderson and a 1975 graduate of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, Russell has been an active alumni volunteer for the fraternity for nearly 25 years at the local and national levels. That service includes 13 years as the advisor of the fraternity’s Gamma Lambda Chapter at Purdue, and a term on the organization’s national governing body from 1995-99.

"I am excited about the opportunity to grow professionally and to serve in an organization whose mission has played a significant role in my life," Russell said. "It has been my experience through the years as a volunteer that college men eagerly seek opportunities to develop their leadership talents in a values-based environment. Now more than ever, fraternities have an opportunity and an obligation to help young men develop the skills that will allow them to be leaders during their college years and throughout their lives in the communities where they live.

"I will leave the IHSAA grateful for the privilege to have served an organization that has stood the test of time and whose mission is such an essential fabric to the state it serves," Russell said. "Certainly, these past eight years have been a challenging time to be a part of the staff as the Association moved in a new direction on several fronts.

"I am proud of the work that has been accomplished, and leave with fond memories and appreciation for the administrators and coaches in the member schools who are so devoted to the young people we serve throughout Indiana," Russell said. "It also has been gratifying to provide service to the many dedicated media professionals who communicate the special accomplishments of Indiana high school athletes. Both educators and communicators play crucial roles in making high school athletics in Indiana so special. It has been a privilege to work with them on a daily basis."

Ress said applications will be accepted for the vacated position until Dec. 7 with the intention of concluding the process by Dec. 31. Interested applicants should request an application in writing to Ress at the IHSAA office.