Russell Berry was a four-year basketball letterman at Howard Payne, playing under Coach Glen Whitis. He was captain of the team his senior year, averaging 13.9 points on the Lone Star Conference championship team. After graduating in 1963, Berry taught and coached in Comanche, Floydada and at Lubbock Coronado High School before returning to Howard Payne as assistant coach under Whitis. He moved to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene in 1970 as assistant coach when Whitis took over the Cowboys program. Berry became head coach after Whitis died in a car accident, coaching until 1976. One of his Hardin-Simmons players, Harvey Catchings, went on to play in the NBA. After coaching, Berry had a travel agency in Abilene and was a city council member. He also served as chairman of the Howard Payne Board of Trustees.