Russell attended the University of Washington on a soccer scholarship and was a three-time (1994, 1996–97) All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team selection.

[citation needed] After being drafted by the Seattle Sounders in 1998, Russell played for two seasons in the USL First Division.

In 2000, Russell moved to Polish side Lech Poznań along with compatriots Jimmy Conrad and Wojtek Krakowiak.

[2] He then moved back to the United States to play for Major League Soccer, and he joined the San Jose Earthquakes; Russell appeared in 131 games.

[6] On November 22, 2016, Russell was named the first Head Coach of 2017 USL Expansion Team: Reno 1868 FC.