TCU football coach leaving for Texas A&M staff, DeMontie Cross returns

TCU football's director of player personnel Eric Russell is leaving for a job at Texas A&M, according to multiple sources.

Russell has been with the Horned Frogs since 2015. He spent the previous three seasons as an assistant head coach and special teams coordinator under Mike Leach at Washington State.

Gary Patterson confirmed the news after Sunday's practice and announced that former TCU co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach DeMontie Cross, will replace Russell, with additional duties as a defensive analyst. Cross was Missouri's defensive coordinator in 2016 before he was abruptly fired by coach Barry Odom in September 2017 after a loss against South Carolina.

"More to do with philosophical differences would be the biggest deciding factor in making the move," Odom told the Kansas City Star. "I feel very, very strongly about the staff we have in place to mentor and guide our student-athletes in every area of their life, not just on the football field but in every area — academically, socially and how to treat others with great respect and make our society better."

Russell's new position at A&M is unknown. He was also Leach's special teams coach in 2009 at Texas Tech.

He was at North Texas from 1994 to 2006. Most of that time was under head coach Darrell Dickey. Dickey is now Jimbo Fisher's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M.

Russell spent two seasons as tight ends and special teams coach at Tennessee in 2010-11 before joining Leach's staff at Washington State. He coaches special teams for Louisiana Tech in 2007-08 before joining Leach at Texas Tech.

This story was originally published March 4, 2018 at 6:36 PM with the headline "TCU football coach leaving for Texas A&M staff, DeMontie Cross returns."