Russ Callaway enters his fifth season on the Samford football coaching staff, and his fourth as the squad’s offensive coordinator. Callaway specifically coaches the team’s quarterbacks. He coached the team's receivers for his first two seasons on the staff.
For the last two seasons, Callaway mentored record-setting quarterback Devlin Hodges. In 2018, Hodges earned the Walter Payton Award for the top offensive player in all of FCS football. That season, Hodges set a school record with 4,283 yards. For his career, the three-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Year and All-American, passed for an FCS-record 14,584, breaking the old record set by Steve McNair.
As a unit in 2018, Samford's offense led the nation in passing yards per game (392.7). The offense ranked fourth nationally in total offense (515.9 ypg.), and eighth in both red zone offense (.898) and in first downs (298).
The team’s 2017 offense led the SoCon and ranked fifth in the nation in passing yards per game (33.4 ypg.). In 2016, Callaway’s offense ranked third among all FCS schools in passing offense, averaging 349.4 passing yards per game. The offense also ranked sixth in the nation in red zone offense (90.2%), 11th in team passing efficiency (155.24), 12th in scoring offense (35.1 ppg.) and 14th in total offense (446.2 ypg.).
Callaway worked with Karel Hamilton in his record-setting season in 2016. That year, Hamilton, who was a first team All-American, set single-season Samford records for receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,389). He also holds school career records for receptions (279) and receiving yards (3,803), and he has tied the career record for touchdown receptions (31).
In his first season on the Samford coaching staff, the offense ranked third in the nation in passing offense and seventh nationally in total offense. The unit set a school record for total offense in a game with 752 yards in a win over Florida A&M.
In that first season, Callaway tutored a talented group of receivers. Included in the group were SoCon Freshman of the Year Kelvin McKnight, as well as All-SoCon receivers Hamilton and Emmanuel Obajimi.
Callaway came to Samford in 2015 after spending two seasons on Head Coach Chris Hatcher’s staff at Murray State. At MSU, Callaway worked with the wide receivers, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
In his first season with the Racers, Callaway mentored a group of receivers that saw seven receivers catch at least 15 passes and combine for 20 touchdowns. The group was anchored by All-American Walter Powell, who caught 66 passes for 837 yards and 13
touchdowns in 10 games. Powell was not alone as sophomores Jeremy Harness and Paul Rice had breakout seasons.
Harness hauled in 40 passes in the 2014 season, after catching just 13 the season before. Rice had 32 catches in 2013 after catching only one pass as a freshman. Callaway also mentored freshman Jesse Blackburn into one of the top pass catchers in the
OVC.
Callaway joined the Racers after winning back-to-back BCS National Championships as a defensive analyst on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. In his role at UA, Callaway assisted defensive coordinator Kirby Smart with the inside linebackers. The Tide defense posted four shutouts, and held six opponents to 10 points or less.
Callaway played collegiately as a quarterback at Valdosta State. He was a two-time captain and had his most productive season in 2009 when he went 26-for-45 for 350 yards and three touchdowns. He joined the Blazers in 2007, helping the team to the school’s second National Championship.
After his playing career was cut short by injury, Callaway spent his final year working with the quarterbacks as a student assistant at VSU.
Callaway graduated from VSU in 2010 with a degree in business management. His father, Neil is a coaching veteran, and is currently the offensive line coach at USC.
Callaway and his wife, Taylor, were married on May 7, 2011, and have one daughter, Maris Faye Callaway, and one son, Samuel Ingram Callaway.
