Carroll College Athletics

A versatile 3-sport athlete from Missoula Loyola, 5’9”, 160-pound Russ Pilcher was a 3-time first team All-Montana College Conference football selection at defensive back/punter, and a two-time All-American. As a sophomore, he spearheaded a Saints defense that allowed only 62 total points (7.75 average) and posted 5 shutouts. Russ “Quick-kicked” a school-record 86 yard punt in the 13-6 win over Western, led the nation with a punting average of 45.5 yards, and was selected a 1964 Brooklyn Tabloit All-American honorable mention. 

In 1965, he booted a 66-yarder in a 14-0 win over Tech, while winning the second of his three Conference punting crowns. His senior year, Pilcher ranked No. 5 in the nation with a school-record 45.9 yard average, which no doubt would’ve been higher if not for several “short field” punts. He was recognized with the Estenson Memorial team MVP award, and 1966 second team defensive All-NAIA. After a punting try-out with the Dallas Cowboys in Spokane, he returned to his hometown, where a lengthy high school coaching career is commemorated in part by his brain-child, “The Russ Pilcher Western Top-10 Track & Field Meet.”