South Columbus’ Dove wins NCHSAA Award
These awards celebrate those who remain active in the field and consistently go “above and beyond” in their contributions at both the local and state levels.
TABOR CITY, N.C. (WWAY) – Russell Dove is the recipient of the 2024 Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award from September’s NCHSAA Regional Meeting in Fayetteville.
The Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Awards, named in honor of the Association’s late, long-serving Executive Director, recognize individuals from each region who have dedicated at least ten years to education and athletics. These awards celebrate those who remain active in the field and consistently go “above and beyond” in their contributions at both the local and state levels.
Read more from the NCHAA here.
Russell Dove is the head football coach at South Columbus High School, dedicated to developing his players on and off the field. Raised in the Center Road Community near Bladenboro, North Carolina, he excelled in football, baseball, and basketball at Bladenboro High School. Dove continued his athletic career at Elon College before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he earned a degree in Parks and Recreation Management.
After spending over nine years in retail management, he returned to UNC-P to pursue a degree in Physical Education. His teaching career began at West Columbus High School, where he taught weight training and PE and achieved National Board Certification in 2007. He later served as head football coach at West Bladen High School from 2013 to 2015.
Since joining South Columbus High School as head football coach in 2016, Dove has become a cornerstone of the community. He focuses on his players’ physical and mental development and emphasizes discipline, hard work, and perseverance.
Married to Billie for 20 years, they have two sons: Alex, a 2024 graduate of South Columbus High School, and Cole, a current junior. The Dove family actively participates in Western Prong Baptist Church, where faith is central to their lives. Coach Dove believes that “God, family, and football” are the foundations of his life, instilling values of commitment, integrity, and resilience in his students and athletes. You can find him at South Columbus High School six days a week, passionately nurturing the next generation of leaders.
