Joe Russom resigns as head coach of Kaukauna girls basketball team
KAUKAUNA − Joe Russom has resigned as the head coach of the Kaukauna girls basketball team.
Russom, who won a pair of Division 1 state titles as the head coach of the Appleton North girls, was in his fourth season as the head coach for the Ghosts. He announced his resignation Wednesday, according to a press release from the school.
Kaukauna is 6-10 this season and coming off a 59-55 loss at Appleton East on Tuesday. The Ghosts were considered a contender for the Fox Valley Association title after a 19-8 finish last season and a berth in the sectional semifinals. The Ghosts lost top scorer Alexa Kinas to a knee injury in the offseason and were 4-7 in league play this season. They host Neenah on Friday in an FVA game.
Russom declined to comment when reached by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon.
Autumn Freeborn, a 2012 Kaukauna graduate, will serve as the Ghosts' interim head coach the rest of the season. Freeborn (Hennes) was a standout player for the Ghosts and a four-time letterwinner during her high school career before playing collegiately at UW-Stevens Point. Her husband, Brad, will be her assistant coach.
Russom took over as Kaukauna coach prior to the 2020-21 season. He had a 61-26 record for the Ghosts, including records of 19-8 in 2021-22 and 17-8 in 2020-21.
Russom's overall record is 241-96. He compiled a 180-70 record at Appleton North, helped the Lightning to three consecutive state appearances and state titles in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He resigned as coach following the team’s second state championship to devote more time to his ailing mother.
Freeborn was the interim Ghosts head coach in 2019-20, taking over for Craig Hawley. Kaukauna finished 11-13 that season.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Russom resigns as Kaukauna Ghosts girls high school basketball coach
