The Houston Texas native Russel Charles was a three-time prep letterman in both football and track at Houston’s Kashmere High School. Russel was a 1971 football captain and a two-way starter as a senior. Charles had many accolades bestowed upon him throughout his high school career including All City, All-Greater Houston Area, and All-State, but none more gratifying than being named to the 70’s Houston Chronicle All-Decade First Team. Russel played in the Texas High School All-Star game where he scored twice and threw a touchdown on an option pass. He went on to letter three years at UCLA where his senior season, he received the prestige Paul Wellman Memorial Award for “All Around Excellence,” after leading the team in rushing with 763 yards. His 5.8 yards-per-carry was the best in the Pac-8 in 1974. Charles began his coaching career at Georgia Tech University on the staff of Coach Pepper Rogers, as the youngest full-time assistant in division one football. He would later move on to coach at Stanford University under the legendary Bill Walsh.