Norris Russell, a former Rice University football player, served as OBU's athletic director for 23 years.

Under his administration OBU added men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, and women's golf and brought back women's volleyball and women's track and cross country. He also led the study process which resulted in the return of football in 2013.

During his tenure, OBU more than doubled the number of student-athletes on campus. Seven of OBU national championships and nine national runner-up finishes occurred during his tenure.

Russell was the 2010 Sooner Athletic Conference Athletic Director of the Year.

He also coached tennis during the 1981 through 1984 seasons, winning four conference titles and two district championships and advancing to the NAIA national meet in 1981 and 1984.

Although he stepped down as athletic director in 2011, he remains on the OBU staff as director of the academic division of kinesiology and leisure studies.