Bahamian Tennis Coach Inducted Into Southern Nazarene University Hall of Fame

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Coach Larikah Russell, a highly decorated tennis professional and national champion, was formally inducted into the 2025 Hall of Fame Class of Southern Nazarene University (SNU) Athletics in Bethany, Oklahoma recently.

Out of 47 nominations received this year, she was one of five distinguished individuals selected by the University.

A proud native of Grand Bahama, Russell remarked to the audience, “To be honest, when I first committed to SNU, I didn’t know anything about Oklahoma—I didn’t even really know where it was on the map! All I knew was that I had signed a letter of intent to attend Southern Nazarene University, and I took a chance. I took that leap of faith and came here not knowing what to expect. But looking back, I now realize it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Russell attended SNU from 2002 to 2006, where she dominated the national small college tennis circuit.

A four-year starter at No. 1 singles and doubles, she claimed an impressive four Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Small College National Championships — three in singles and one in doubles — and earned three invitations to the NCAA Division I Indoor National Championships.

Russell was also a sought-after recruit in basketball, softball, and soccer, making her one of the most versatile athletes of her era.

It has been 18 years since Coach Russell walked the campus of SNU and to see her successes not only acknowledged but remembered left her speechless. Her legacy is memorialized in the Sawyer Auditorium where the plaques and trophies awarded to the University because of her performance are on display for generations of students to view.

Since graduating, Coach Russell has represented The Bahamas for 12 years on the National and Federation Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) tennis teams. Her career highlights include capturing a bronze medal in singles and a gold medal in doubles at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico. In 2013, as a playing captain, she led The Bahamas to a historic promotion to Fed Cup Zone I — a first in the nation’s history. A certified ITF Level 1 Coach, Certified Padel Professional, and Certified Pickleball Instructor, Russell has traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean and South America, coaching junior and senior national teams for The Bahamas. In addition to her tennis achievements, Russell is a decorated national softball player and championship-winning shortstop, having also served as Assistant Coach for the University of The Bahamas Women’s Softball Team.

Introduced by her former Coach Phil White, he described her as “an amazing athlete” and “one of the most humble people” he has ever known.

With that same humility, Russell gave this advice to the next generation of athletes, “to the young girl or boy watching from the islands or from a small town—know that your dream is valid. Keep working. Keep believing. And when opportunity comes, don’t be afraid to leap—even if you don’t know where you’re going just yet. That leap might just lead you to your destiny.”

Currently, Coach Russell is a partner and tennis professional at Impact Tennis Academy in Nassau, where she passionately trains and mentors athletes of all ages and skill levels.