Russ Carney Position: Associate Head Coach Experience: MSU: Fourth; All: 29 Alma Mater: Ball State, 1978

Russ Carney is in his fourth season at Michigan State following 11 years at Western Michigan, where he served as an assistant under head coach Cathy George. During the offseason, Carney, who has spent 15 seasons with George, was promoted to Associate Head Coach. Carney focuses on recruiting and working with the blockers on the court for the Spartans. Carney also played an instrumental role in assembling the top recruiting class in Michigan State history. Serving as the recruiting coordinator, Carney brought in the seventh best recruiting class in the nation and the top class in the Big Ten.

"Russ and I have worked so well together and had great success throughout the past 14 years," said George. "He and I worked together for 11 years at Western Michigan and I really feel that having that kind of continuity is a strength for the Spartan program. I believe we complement each other very well in our coaching styles. We are able to maximize different areas on the bench and in practice."

A Tunkhannock, Pa., native, Carney started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1978. He assumed the head coaching duties at KCC in 1980 and promptly guided the Bruins to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship that year. Carney went on to serve as an assistant coach at Wisconsin in 1981 before he was named head coach of the Badgers in 1982, where he remained until 1984. During his stint at Wisconsin, Carney served as head coach of the 1981 U.S. Olympic Festival Men's East Team, guiding that squad to the Gold medal. He was a member of both the NCAA Midwest Regional and Big Ten Conference officiating committees.

A setter in college, Carney attended Kellogg Community College (1973-74) before transferring to Ball State University (1976). He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from BSU in 1978.

Russ and his wife, Sherry, have a daughter, Jessica, 18, and a son, Branden, 16, and reside in Battle Creek, Mich.