Russell Coleman

Russell Coleman was a part of the 1963-64 Blue Devil Basketball Team that led the nation averaging 117.5 points per game. Coleman also led the nation in scoring that year totaling 1,042 points giving him NJCAA All-American honors. He averaged 32.0 ppg while at Centralia Junior College highlighted by a record-setting 62 point effort.

Russell Coleman was a top individual scorer and was integral to this team winning the Mt Vernon Invitational Tournament, the Harrisburg Invitational Tournament, the Southern Illinois College Conference for two consecutive years, Illinois Junior College Championship, and in securing the title of NJCAA Sectional IV Champions. He led the team to a State Championship in March 1963.

In 1986 he was inducted into the Centralia Sports Hall of Fame from his All-State special mentioning honors in the Chicago American and the Champaign News Gazette.

After graduating from Kaskaskia College, Mr Coleman went on to Loyola University in Chicago and before the start of the season he answered the call to serve his country during the Vietnam war. During that time he played basketball while stationed in Germany and upon his return to the states, resided in New York for 12 years before returning to Centralia, Illinois. He remains an active volunteer in the local community serving on numerous commissions and boards to include the Centralia Hall of Fame Committee and the Superheroes Mentoring Program .