Thank You Debbie Russell: Maryland Says Farewell To A Living Legend

For nearly 50 years, Debbie Russell has embodied Maryland.

Debbie began as a student intern in the ticket office in the fall of 1973, worked there until she graduated in 1976, and then took a full-time ticketing position in January of 1977. Since then, she has bounced around several different roles across different departments, having her hand in basically every aspect of Maryland athletics in one way or another.

This week, after basically 50 years as a Terp, Debbie works her final days as the Director of Human Resources at Maryland and begins a well-deserved retirement—but not before her colleagues and friends celebrate her one more time. 

"Debbie Russell is a living legend,” said Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics. “We are so fortunate to have had Debbie as a part of our Maryland family for nearly 50 years. She is Maryland and epitomizes what it means to be a Terrapin. Debbie has an amazing attitude, she is always supportive and friendly while finding a way to get it done. She has a wonderful, warm way of making you feel welcome from the first time you meet her. In her time at Maryland, she has interacted with thousands of people in her roles with the Terps and I am sure everyone would have something positive to say about Debbie. We are going to miss her dearly, but we thank her for her dedication and passion to Maryland. Debbie, you are one of a kind, a Terrapin through and through."

Officially, Debbie has worked in four different spheres while at Maryland, making three stops in ticketing, two in both the business office and human resources, and one appointment as special assistant to the Director of Athletics. 

“During my time at Maryland, Debbie was a great team player,” said legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach Gary Williams. “Debbie had a great way of making people comfortable in the work environment. She had time for everyone. Debbie had a love for the athletic department and the university that was unmatched. Debbie, thanks for what you did for all of us who worked with you.”

Being at the same school for 50 years and working through four different departments is impressive enough, but that doesn’t even come close to truly capturing all that Debbie has done for the university. 

“In an ever-changing landscape of college athletics and plenty of ups and downs in Terpland, Debbie has always been a constant, The North Star,” said Carrie Blankenship, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations. “She’s someone you could trust to help you through a tough situation—whether it was something you were going through personally, or related to continuing to hire the best talent out there.”

At Maryland, Debbie has been the embodiment of a jack-of-all-trades. Before the communications department was as fleshed out as it is today, Debbie would assist with making basketball press guides and the quarterly Maryland magazine as well as helping out with general gameday duties.

“Debbie Russell is Maryland,” said football head coach Michael Locksley, who has served multiple stints at Maryland, dating to the late 1990s. “I’ve had three separate stints working here as a Coach and, each time, Debbie was one of the first people to greet me. She works tirelessly to make sure all of our staff has what they need to to get settled in their roles and to be successful. We’ll miss her tremendously, but wish her all the best in her retirement.”

"It is hard for me to even think about Maryland without Debbie,” said head women's lacrosse coach Cathy Reese, who played at Maryland in the 1990s and has been coaching with the Terps for much of the last 20 years. “She has been such a constant presence in our lives for so long and epitomizes everything it means to be a Terp! I love seeing her smile everyday. I can't thank her enough for all she's done for me and Maryland women's lacrosse and wish her the best on a very well-deserved retirement!!"

Additionally, Debbie pretty much single-handedly made up the compliance department before such a thing even existed, as she would deal with player eligibility, housing and those types of things.

“I've been at Maryland for a long time, but I have not experienced Maryland without Debbie Russell being here as well,” said Ron Ohringer, who has worked in the equipment room at Maryland for more than 30 years. “She has outlasted a lot of people and has been through many good days of winning and some times that we didn't win as much.  One thing I can say is that Debbie was always able to keep a smile on her face and keep on going. It is good to walk by her office, see the smile and a pleasant greeting that will be missed.”

Debbie has also always been willing to make big sacrifices whenever necessary. During the Terps’ appearance in the 1985 Cherry Bowl in Pontiac, Michigan, Debbie stayed behind to plan and launch what was then regarded as the book room, a Maryland practice where student-athletes would turn in old textbooks so the school could recoup funding to reallocate once the books were no longer needed.

“Debbie is one of the most dedicated co-workers I've ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Cheryl Harrison, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, who has worked at Maryland in various roles since 1996. “She's always in the office and always available to help. Debbie constantly looks for ways to help solve whatever the situation, versus just telling you no.”

Debbie’s work has not only been felt by administrators, it has touched all the coaching staffs—including the two longest tenured Maryland head coaches.

“Debbie Russell has been serving Maryland since as long as I’ve been here and I can’t thank her enough for her dedication to the Terps,” said men’s soccer coach Sasho Cirovski, who has been at Maryland since 1993. “She has helped make us better in a variety of roles. Part of the reason I have fallen in love with Maryland over the years is the incredible loyalty shown by the people here, and Debbie is at the top of that list. Congrats to Debbie on a well deserved retirement! She will be missed!”

“For 38 years, whether requesting an international work visa or the perfect, full-healing hug, there is only one place to go—Debbie Russell’s office,” added Missy Meharg, who joined the Terps in 1985. 

There are many iconic, lasting things about Debbie—but perhaps nothing more than her exemplary style. 

“One of the funny memories I have of Debbie is the Maryland jacket she wears,” said Deputy Athletic Director Colleen Sorem, who has been at Maryland since 2018. “Over the years, we have given her new items, and gear annually, but there are one or two jackets from back in the day that Debbie LOVES, and no matter what new gear she gets, she is always going to rock one of her old school jackets.

“As an employee Debbie has been dedicated to Maryland Athletics for nearly 50 years, her passion and love for this place is unlike anything I've ever seen,” Sorem added. “As a person, she has always been there for me, whether it be something going on at work, or just an ear for me to talk to her about things outside of work. She has been a loyal and trusted colleague and friend and I will dearly miss her.”

Perhaps more than anything she did work-wise, it’s Debbie’s genuine and caring personality that will stick with her colleagues forever. 

"I have known Debbie for close to 25 years and from the first time I met her when she worked in the Ticket Office in the late 1990s, she was always willing to offer a helpful hand and always with a smile,” said Strategic Communications Officer, Jason Yellin, who first joined Maryland in 1998. “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Debbie, sharing stories, memories and more. No matter how busy she is—and that could be 25 job searches at the same time—when I walk into her office with a question, she always has time to chat and help. She has a warm way of making everyone feel important and cared for. Good luck Debbie and thank you for all you have done for Maryland. We will miss you!"

For those who have spent years and years with Debbie, many of their favorite memories consist of daily chats and catch-ups about each other’s families. Debbie loved to give updates on her children and her grandchildren–especially with one more grandchild on the way.

“When I think about Debbie in her role within Human Resources, I immediately think about the ‘human’ aspect that makes her so valuable,” said Mark Sherburne, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration. “She always finds time for you no matter how busy, is direct in all the right ways, handles difficult situations with empathy, and cares about everyone she meets.  She is iconic and has impacted our unit and organization in ways in which her legacy and work will always be threaded into the fabric of Maryland Athletics.”

It’s for that reason that news of Debbie’s retirement has produced such an outpouring of expressions of love and appreciation for everything Debbie did and stood for.

“I was in the hallway not long after Damon's announcement about Debbie's retirement was sent to staff and it was so heartwarming to see and feel how happy and sad the staff was for Debbie,” said Dr. Sue Sherburne, Maryland’s Senior Woman Administrator and Senior Associate A.D., for Academics and Student Development . “Whether it was a long-time head coach, a director of ops or one of the external staff who were passing in the hallway at that time, all shared hugs and well wishes which is a testament to how Debbie treats each individual staff member.”

From everyone at Maryland Athletics, thank you for everything Debbie. Your impact on Maryland will never be forgotten. Enjoy a well-deserved retirement!