UPDATED January 27, 2025
Russell DeMasi was selected as Associate Head Coach as well as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach by first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley in March of 2023. He concluded his second season with the Warriors in November of 2024.
In his first season at Wayne State, DeMasi helped the Warriors to three wins, matching the total from 2021 and 2022 combined, while playing the toughest regular-season schedule in NCAA Division 2 (67-37, .644). Four of WSU's eight setbacks were to playoff teams, while another two losses came either in overtime (at Saginaw Valley State) or in the final minute of regulation (Concordia).
In addition, he guided the WSU offense to a GLIAC-best fourth-down conversion percentage (71%, 10-of-14), while ranking second in time of possession (30:51). WSU was tied-for-sixth nationally in fewest fumbles lost (3), while totaling over 3,000 yards of total offense. Three of his signal callers earned GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
In year two, he mentored Honorable Mention All-GLIAC selection Champion Edwards, who became the first WSU player since 1975 to lead the squad in both rushing yards (570) and passing yards (899). Edwards ranked sixth in the GLIAC in yards per carry (6.3) and third in rushing yards per game (63.3) as the Warriors played the third-toughest schedule in Division 2.
WSU led the GLIAC in fourth-down conversion percentage (66.7 / 8-of-12), while ranking second in red zone percentage (82.9 / 29-of-35) and fourth in third-down conversion percentage (35.2 / 50-of-142). Two of his student-athletes received GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
DeMasi came to Detroit after serving as the offensive coordinator in the fall of 2022 at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga. He aided in the Cavaliers compiling an 11-1 record and averaging over 42 points per game. DeMasi mentored quarterback Jake Merklinger, who was selected Region Player of the Year.
Prior to his stop in the high school ranks, he spent seven years (2015-21) at Division 2 Savannah State University. DeMasi began his tenure with the Tigers as quarterbacks coach (2015) before mentoring the wide receivers for three seasons (2016-18). He served as co-Special Teams Coordinator in both 2017 and 2018, prior to assuming the co-Offensive Coordinator role in 2019. DeMasi served as Assistant Head Coach in both 2020 and 2021, before acting as interim head coach for five months (December 2021 through April 2022).
In addition to his assistant head coach role, DeMasi coached the quarterbacks and running backs. He also spent four years as SSU's Recruiting Coordinator (2018-2021). In 2021 Savannah State went 8-2 and averaged nearly 30 points per game and over 300 yards of total offense per contest. SSU played twice in March of 2021 after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID. In 2019, the Tigers went undefeated in the SIAC and 7-3 overall as the DeMasi led offense scored over 31 points per contest and averaged nearly 320 yards of offense per game. It was the first winning season for the Tigers since 1998.
He began his coaching career in 2013 at Shorter University (Rome, Ga.) as a graduate assistant working with the quarterbacks and running backs. The following year he added the duties of co-Special Teams Coordinator.
DeMasi earned a bachelor's degree in General Studies in 2012 from Georgia Southern University with concentrations in Education, Business, and Coaching. While a student-athlete for the Eagles (2008-12), he appeared in 15 games recording rushing touchdowns against 11th-ranked South Carolina State in 2010 and Howard in 2012. DeMasi received a master's degree in Liberal Arts of Leadership from Shorter in 2014.
DeMasi and his wife Kate reside in metro Detroit.
