Mardracus Ladell Russell, a 43-year-old teacher and track and field coach at Dadeville High School, was arrested on Wednesday for serious sex-related offenses involving students. He faces charges of sexual contact with a student and transmitting obscene material to a child. The arrest follows initial allegations that prompted the school district to place him on leave.
Mardracus Ladell Russell, aged 43, was booked into the Tallapoosa County Jail at 5:59 p.m. on Wednesday. He has been charged with school employee sexual contact with a student, along with two counts of transmitting obscene material to a child. No bond has been set for Russell at this time.
Russell served as a history teacher and head coach for the track and field program at Dadeville High School in Alabama. His tenure included leading the boys' team to their first AHSAA Indoor State Championship during the 2024-2025 season. This achievement earned him the Section 3 Coach of the Year honors, as noted in a December 2025 article by Tallapoosa Publisher’s Inc.
The Tallapoosa County School District has not released a new statement specifically addressing the arrest. However, following the initial allegations, Superintendent Casey Davis and the Tallapoosa County Board of Education issued a response acknowledging the situation involving a staff member at Dadeville High School. They expressed understanding of the community's concerns.
“The employee in question has been placed on leave,” the statement read. “We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and assisting with their investigation.”
This development has cast a shadow over Russell's recent successes in the program. Updates will follow if the district provides further information.
