Former first-round NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell has reportedly been relieved of his duties as assistant football coach at his alma mater, Williamson High School in Mobile.
He is facing a lawsuit regarding a $74,000 donation intended for the high school. Russell, who starred at LSU before becoming a bust with the Oakland Raiders, had worked as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater since 2018, but a spokesman at Mobile County Public Schools said he was relieved of his duties during the fall of 2023.
“JaMarcus Russell was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties at Williamson High School during the fall of last year,” Mobile County Public School officials told WKRG.
According to the report, a local business owner named Chris Knowles wrote a $74,000 check after Russell approached him about a donation to help the Williamson football team buy weight room equipment. The school says it never received the check, and Russell reportedly deposited it in a credit union and promptly withdrew $55,000 of it.
Russell is now longer permitted around the high school he once starred at. He showed up for a football team event this week but was told he was not welcome around the program or on campus.
“Earlier this week, it was reiterated to Mr. Russell that he is not permitted to be around the football program or on school campus,” the spokesman told WKRG.
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