Ben Davis High School has named Russell Mann as the new head coach of the Giant football program following School Board approval on Monday evening.

Mann will replace Jason Simmons, who recently accepted a running backs coach position at Miami University.

Mann joined Ben Davis High School in July 2022 as a math teacher and football coach who quickly immersed himself into the community and football program. He brings a strong work ethic, magnetic personality, humility, and vast football knowledge, as well as a resume of success to the Giant Football Program.

Mann is well respected throughout the Indiana football community. He has coached for 19 years at the 5A/6A high school level, spending 10 years as a defensive coordinator and six years as a special teams coordinator. He has won three Indiana State Championships as a defensive coordinator. His defense set the IHSAA State Championship record in 2018 for the fewest yards allowed by an offense, 159.

Not only is Coach Mann outstanding on the football field, but he also excels in the classroom. He was a Teacher of the Year finalist at Warren Central in 2016 and 2017 and won the First Year Teacher of the Year Award at North Central High School in 2005. Mann brings the same energy and enthusiasm to the classroom as he does on the football field. His previous experiences include teaching and coaching at Warren Central High School, Lawrence Central High School, and North Central High School.

Mann is a 2003 Butler University graduate, where he was a two-time all-conference defensive back, team captain his senior season, and mental attitude award winner in 2001 and 2002 for track and football, respectively. Prior to attending Butler, Coach Mann was a 1999 graduate of Concord High School where he was a member of the 1998 IHSAA State Runner-Up Football Team, Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award Winner, and Indiana Football Coaches Association State All-Star. He is married to his wife Abbie and has two daughters, Ava and Annie.