STATESBORO -- Erk Russell -- the baldheaded coach who led Georgia's "Junkyard Dawg" defense under Vince Dooley and then built a small-college powerhouse of his own at Georgia Southern -- died today after a car accident. He was 80.

East Georgia Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Bob Bigley says Russell was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Statesboro about 9:10 a.m. and was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bigley says Russell's death was "not from injuries" related to the wreck. He says there has NOT been a thorough examination but the speculation is that Russell may have had a stroke.

Georgia State Patrol Corporal Chris Lacienski says Russell was in a single-vehicle accident at around 8:45 a.m.

He says Russell was driving a Chevy S-10 Blazer near his home in Statesboro when the vehicle swerved off the road and struck a light pole along the side of the road. The trooper described the crash as minor.

Russell -- who came to prominence during 17 years as Georgia's defensive coordinator -- left the Bulldogs after their 1980 national championship to build Georgia Southern's first football team since 1941. He won Division I-AA championships in 1985, '86 and '89.

Russell retired after winning the last title, but remained close to the school until a falling-out with former coach Mike Sewak two years ago. Russell cut all ties to Georgia Southern after his son, Rusty, was fired as the defensive coordinator.

Sewak was dismissed after last season, and Russell again became a presence on the Georgia Southern campus with the encouragement of new coach Brian VanGorder -- another former defensive coordinator at Georgia.

A native of Birmingham, AL, Russell holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn. He played football, basketball, baseball and tennis for the Tigers, earning 10 varsity letters. Russell was the last four-sport letterman in Auburn history.

Born July 23, 1926, Russell is married to the former Jean Farmer of Birmingham. They have two sons--Rusty and Jay--who are also football coaches.

Lewis Grizzard said of Russell in 1991, "Only Erk could transform a rainwater gulley alongside Georgia Southern's practice field into the "miracle water of Eagle Creek," and only Erk could have transformed a dormant program into a national championship."