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Hermann Fitness
A DBA Under Hermann Fitness

Hermann Fitness Vault Club.

A structured pole vault development system focused on technical progression, sprint mechanics, strength training, and long-term athlete development.

Our goal is to provide consistent access and opportunity for athletes of all levels in a high-quality training environment.

Pole VaultSprint MechanicsStrength TrainingMental PerformanceVideo AnalysisCompetition Prep
USA Track & Field (USATF) logo

Proud Member of USA Track & Field

We are a proud member of USA Track & Field — the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running, and race walking in the United States.

Head Coach

Meet your coach.

Hermann Fitness Vault Club is led by a world-class pole vault athlete and coach with decades of competitive and coaching experience at the highest levels.

Russ Buller — Head Coach at Hermann Fitness Vault Club

Russ Buller

Head Coach — Hermann Fitness Vault Club

Former World-Class Athlete

Russ Buller clearing the bar during pole vault competition
Russ Buller in mid-vault during international competition
Russ Buller competing in pole vault for Team USA
Russ Buller celebrating a championship pole vault victory

Russ Buller is a highly accomplished pole vaulter and coach with a lifelong passion for track and field. A former elite competitor, Russ brings world-class experience and a deep technical understanding of the event to every athlete he works with.

Born and raised in Westlake, Louisiana, Russ emerged as a national champion in high school and quickly established himself as one of the top young vaulters in the country. He was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame following an outstanding collegiate career where he became a 2000 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion, a 7-time All-American, a 6-time SEC Pole Vault Champion, and a former LSU school record holder with a personal best of 5.81m (19'1").

He went on to represent Team USA at the highest levels during an 8-year professional career on the world circuit, earning numerous international honors including a Pan American Games Silver Medal, a North American Championship title, and three U.S. Olympic Trials finals appearances.

He is married to Canadian Olympic pole vaulter Dr. Dana Ellis, and together they bring a unique, high-level perspective to athlete development and performance.

Today, Russ coaches through Hermann Fitness Vault Club (a DBA under Hermann Fitness) in Florida, working with athletes of all ages and skill levels. His coaching philosophy emphasizes proper technique, confidence, progression, and safety — helping athletes build a strong foundation while maximizing their potential.

Coaching Philosophy

Proper technique. Confidence. Progressive development. Safety first. Russ builds athletes from the ground up — helping them develop a strong technical foundation while maximizing their potential at every stage.

Career Highlights

2000 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Champion (LSU)
LSU Hall of Fame Inductee
7-Time All-American (Pole Vault & 4x100 Relay)
6-Time SEC Pole Vault Champion
Personal Best: 5.81m (19'1")
U.S. High School National Champion (Indoor & Outdoor)
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Alternate
Pan American Games Silver Medalist
North American, Central American & Caribbean Champion
USA Outdoor Champion
USA Indoor Runner-Up
3x U.S. Olympic Trials Finalist (2000, 2004, 2008)

Coaching & Professional Experience

Track & Field Coach

LSU, Baton Rouge, LA

Head Track & Field Coach

McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA

Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach

San Diego Padres (MLB)

Assistant Athletic Director

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

Pole Vault Coach

IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

Director of Sports Performance

New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL

Volunteer Coaching Staff

Volunteer Coaches.

Our volunteer coaches bring world-class competitive experience and a passion for developing the next generation of athletes.

Dana Ellis — Former Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter

Dr. Dana Ellis

Volunteer Coach

Former Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter

Dana Ellis training on the track with pole vault pole
Dana Ellis competing in international pole vault competition

Dana Ellis is a former Canadian Olympic pole vaulter who represented Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where she finished 6th in the world — one of the top performances ever by a Canadian in the event.

Over the course of her elite career, Dana established herself as one of the most accomplished pole vaulters in Canadian history. She was a two-time Canadian National Champion (2004, 2005) and held both the indoor and outdoor Canadian records in the women's pole vault for nearly a decade (2000–2008). Her personal best of 4.52 meters (14'10") placed her among the top vaulters in the world, and she was ranked as high as 7th globally during the 2005–2006 seasons.

On the international stage, Dana consistently competed at the highest level, earning top finishes at the Olympic Games, World Championships, IAAF World Athletics Final, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games. She was named Canada's Field Athlete of the Year in 2004 following her Olympic performance.

Dana began her athletic career as a member of the Canadian National Gymnastics Team before transitioning to pole vault, where she quickly rose to international prominence. She competed collegiately while completing a degree in Kinesiology, further deepening her understanding of human performance and biomechanics.

Following her track and field career, Dana pursued medicine and is now a board-certified dermatologist. Her unique background as both an Olympian and physician allows her to bring a rare, science-driven perspective to pole vault training, injury prevention, and long-term athletic development.

Why Dana Coaches

As the wife of Head Coach Russ Buller, Dana brings a unique, high-level perspective to athlete development. Her combination of Olympic-level competitive experience, gymnastics background, kinesiology education, and medical expertise makes her an invaluable resource for developing pole vaulters at every stage.

Career Highlights

6th Place — 2004 Olympic Games (Athens, Greece)
6th Place — 2005 World Championships
5th Place — 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final
4th Place — 2006 Commonwealth Games
5th Place — 2003 Pan American Games
2x Canadian National Champion (2004, 2005)
Canadian Indoor & Outdoor Record Holder (2000–2008)
Personal Best: 4.52m (14'10")
Ranked as high as 7th in the world (2005–2006)
Canada's Field Athlete of the Year (2004)
Former Canadian National Gymnastics Team Member
Board-Certified Dermatologist (MD)

International Results

Olympic Games (2004)

6th Place — Athens, Greece

World Championships (2005)

6th Place

IAAF World Athletics Final (2005)

5th Place

Commonwealth Games (2006)

4th Place

Pan American Games (2003)

5th Place

Canadian Nationals

Champion — 2004 & 2005

Club Member Sessions

Group Pole Vault Sessions.

2–3 hour sessions | 2–4 days per week (seasonal schedule)

Every Session Includes

  • Dynamic warm-ups, sprint drills, and sprint technique training
  • Fundamental pole vault drills including gymnastic rings, rope, and high bar work
  • Short and full approach vaulting
  • Pole vault–specific strength training
  • Mental performance training and video analysis
  • Proper cool down and recovery
  • Collegiate preparation and recruiting guidance
  • Full access to Hermann Fitness Vault Club poles during all practice sessions
  • Pole rentals available to club members ONLY

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Members: Meet coaching included at select Florida regional meets when Russ is in attendance or within reasonable travel distance.

Membership Options

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Memberships.

Development Membership

4 sessions per month

$179/month

Designed for developing and multi-sport athletes.

  • Structured group pole vault training
  • Sprint mechanics and movement development
  • Fundamental technical progression system
  • Access to Hermann Fitness Vault Club coaching environment
Most Popular

Performance Membership

8 sessions per month

$319/month

Designed for committed competitive athletes.

  • All Development Membership benefits
  • Increased weekly training access
  • More consistent technical development work
  • Priority scheduling within training groups

Ultimate Membership

10 Structured training sessions

$399/month

Designed for serious, year-round and college-bound athletes.

  • 10 group training sessions (within scheduled program structure)
  • Full access to pole vault, sprint, and strength training system with Russ
  • Priority access to training schedule and meet requests
  • Full use of recovery facilities during designated training hours

Note: Ultimate Membership includes 10 structured training sessions per month within the scheduled program structure. All training and recovery use is structured within Hermann Fitness Vault Club programming to maintain safety, quality, and coaching standards.

Recovery & Performance

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Recovery & Performance Facility.

Available to members during scheduled training hours.

❄️
Cold Plunge
🛁
Jacuzzis
🔴
Red Light Therapy
🪑
Massage Chairs
🧊
Cryotherapy Chairs

Massage therapy is available as an additional paid service.

1-on-1 Coaching

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Private Coaching.

Private Sessions (1 Athlete)

$2492 Hours

Full technical session including dynamic warm-up, sprint mechanics, gymnastic development, pole vault technical training, video analysis, and short/full approach vaulting.

$1891.5 Hours

Warm-up, technical pole vault instruction, video analysis, and short/full approach vaulting.

$1291 Hour

Pole vault–only session. Athlete must arrive warmed up and ready to vault.

Full access to Hermann Fitness Vault Club poles during all practice sessions.

Small Group Training

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Private Group Rates.

2-Hour Private Group Sessions

2 athletes$275
3 athletes$325
4 athletes$375
5 athletes$425

Full access to Hermann Fitness Vault Club poles during all practice sessions.

Meet Day Coaching

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Travel Private Coaching.

$450
Local Meet Day
Florida Region
$650–$900
Regional Meet Day
$900–$1,500
National / Championship Meet Day

Additional Athletes: +$75–$100 per athlete per meet day

Travel Expenses: Airfare, hotel, and transportation billed separately when applicable.

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Members: Meet coaching included at select Florida regional meets when Russ is in attendance or within reasonable travel distance.

Pole Rental System

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Member Pole Rentals.

Designed to give athletes access to the right pole at the right time — supporting progression, training consistency, and meet-day performance without the burden of constantly purchasing equipment.

Proper pole selection is a critical part of safe and effective pole vault development. All recommendations are based on athlete speed, weight, and technical progression.

Short-Term Rentals

For meet weeks, testing, or immediate needs

Daily Rental$49
Weekly Rental$89

Development Rental

For training blocks, learning phases, and seasonal progression

Monthly Rental$149

Training Contracts

Best value for consistent training and long-term development

2-Month Contract$179
3-Month Contract$199

Rental Policies

Unlimited pole exchanges during active rental period
Athletes are responsible for any lost, damage or breakage
All poles are inspected before and after use with athlete and parent/coach
Rental fees are non-refundable
Renters are responsible for pickup and return
Rentals automatically renew if poles are not returned by 12:00 PM on the due date

Equipment

Hermann Fitness Vault Club Equipment.

Pole Purchases

Pole vault poles are available through Hermann Fitness Vault Club. Russ will personally connect athletes with trusted manufacturer representatives to ensure proper sizing, progression, and performance-based selection.

Proper pole selection is a critical part of safe and effective pole vault development. All recommendations are based on athlete speed, weight, and technical progression.

Available Brands

UCS Spirit
ESSX
Pacer
Altius

Train with Hermann Fitness Vault Club.

Whether your athlete is just starting pole vault or preparing for college-level competition, Hermann Fitness Vault Club provides the coaching, structure, and environment to get them there.

Hermann Fitness Vault Club is a DBA under Hermann Fitness — 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240