IRSC Fieldhouse Named for Alumnus Frank Russo

April 26, 2022 Suzanne Seldes

FORT PIERCE, FL—IRSC alumnus Frank Russo and his wife, Jin-Marie, have donated $100,000 to support the IRSC Baseball Expansion Project. Russo, a successful entrepreneur, businessman, coach and decorated athlete, received his Associate in Arts Degree from Indian River Community College (IRCC) in 1982. The Frank Russo Fieldhouse will be named in his honor.

Frank Russo Fieldhouse Donation

Russo became interested in the Baseball Expansion Project after IRSC announced that its baseball field would be named for retired IRSC Baseball Coach Mike Easom. In 2006, Easom became the “winningest” coach in community college baseball history, leading the Pioneers to 1,013 victories. Easom coached 125 players who went on to professional baseball careers—including Russo.

Russo came to Indian River Community College from Long Island, New York, to play for Easom. He was the first in his extended family to go to college.

“IRCC gave me my start as a collegiate student-athlete, a start that set me on the path to achieving my most ambitious goals,” shared Frank Russo. “It is because of the opportunities that I had here that I am honored to support the development of the new Indian River State College Baseball Expansion Project.”

As a student-athlete at IRCC, Russo was a three-time draft pick by the Montreal Expos, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. He declined these offers, opting to finish his IRCC degree and follow his dream of being a Miami Hurricane student-athlete.

Russo pursued his B.S. Degree in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training at the University of Miami, where he competed as a Miami Hurricane baseball player in his junior and senior years. As a Hurricane, he fulfilled another of his goals, playing in the College World Series. Russo went on to play professional baseball for the Cincinnati Reds Organization in Florida High A-League. After his baseball career, Russo began work as an orthopedic sports medicine sales representative, eventually founding three companies—Orthopedic Implant Professionals, Orthopedic Solutions and the South Florida Learning Center. He has since diversified his professional life by forming a company that builds and sells luxury waterfront homes in South Florida.

“We are struck not only by Frank’s generosity but his sincere affection for Indian River State College and Coach Mike Easom,” says IRSC Athletic Director Scott Kimmelman. “This gift is another example of his passion for helping others achieve their dreams. We are honored to commemorate his benevolence with a new fieldhouse named in his honor.”