Hermann Fitness Pole Vault + Jumps Academy
Pole vault and high jump coaching for middle school, high school, and post-HS athletes — plus athletes transitioning from other sports. Event coaching, speed + power development, and injury-resilient athletic training.
Looking for Hermann Fitness Vault Club memberships, private coaching, and pole rentals? Visit Hermann Fitness Vault Club →
Building foundations, learning event mechanics, developing athletic base
Competition-ready training, meet prep, college exposure preparation
Advanced athletes and those transitioning from other sports into pole vault/jumps
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.
Coaching Staff
World-class coaching.
Our Pole Vault + Jumps Academy is led by coaches with elite competitive experience and a proven track record of developing athletes at every level.
Russ Buller
Head Coach — Pole Vault
Former World-Class Athlete
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 and Hermann Fitness Vault Club 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.
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
International Honors
Silver Medalist — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Champion — Monterrey, Mexico
Team Captain — Beijing, China
Team Member — Edmonton, Canada
Team Member — Athens, Greece
3x Finalist — 2000, 2004, 2008
Coaching & Professional Experience
LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
San Diego Padres (MLB)
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
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.
Dr. Dana Ellis
Volunteer Coach
Former Canadian Olympic Pole Vaulter
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.
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
International Results
6th Place — Athens, Greece
6th Place
5th Place
4th Place
5th Place
Champion — 2004 & 2005
Training Structure
How athletes progress.
Every athlete follows a structured progression — from safety fundamentals through skill development to competition-ready performance.
On-Ramp: Safety + Foundations
- Runway mechanics + cadence
- Pole carry, plant timing, takeoff posture
- Swing/rockback drills (high bar, rings, bubkas, stiff-pole basics)
- Equipment learning + safe bailing
- Approach geometry (J-curve), penultimate + takeoff mechanics
- Arm action, posture, bar clearance shapes
- Low-bar progressions, scissor → flop transition
- Sprint mechanics (A-skips, wickets, shin angles)
- Plyo fundamentals (landing, stiffness, elastic strength)
- Shoulder/hip mobility + trunk control (vault/jump specific)
Build: Skill Volume + Power
- More full approaches (PV 4–8 step; HJ full approach)
- Technical themes per week (plant/step, takeoff, swing, inversion / penultimate, takeoff, bar clearance)
- Video review (slow-mo + 1 cue per rep)
- Posterior chain development
- Single-leg strength progressions
- Overhead stability work
In-Season Peak: Performance + Meet Prep
- Competition warm-up routines
- Attempt strategy, bar progression planning
- Nervous system management (micro-dosed speed, reduced fatigue)
- Meet-week programming
Choose your path
Families can choose the package that fits their athlete's goals and schedule.
Event coaching sessions (pole vault and/or high jump) with structured progressions, video review, and meet prep. Perfect for athletes who already have a strength program or play another sport.
Event coaching plus speed + power development, sprint mechanics, plyometrics, and injury-resilient athletic training. The complete package for athletes who want maximum development.
Monthly Memberships
Pole Vault + Jumps pricing.
Choose the membership level that matches your athlete's commitment and goals. All memberships include structured coaching, video review, and progression tracking.
Foundation
4 sessions/month
Perfect for athletes just getting started or balancing multiple sports. Build fundamentals with consistent weekly coaching.
- 4 coached event sessions
- Pole vault or high jump focus
- Video review included
- Safety + technique progression
Development
8 sessions/month
For committed athletes ready to accelerate their development. Twice-weekly sessions for faster skill acquisition and strength gains.
- 8 coached event sessions
- PV + HJ access
- Speed + power development
- Strength block included
- Video analysis + cue tracking
Unlimited
Unlimited event practices
Full access for serious athletes. Unlimited pole vault and high jump practice sessions plus all athletic training components.
- Unlimited PV + HJ sessions
- Full athletic training access
- Competition prep + meet planning
- Priority scheduling
- Performance tracking dashboard
- Attempt strategy coaching
Track & Field Programs
Beyond pole vault + jumps.
Open-access track & field programs for athletes of all experience levels. From skills circuits to full intro series — there's a way in for everyone.
Track Night Skills Circuit
Open to all athletes. A high-energy circuit session covering the fundamentals of track & field.
- Sprint mechanics + acceleration starts
- Plyometric station
- Mobility + core finish
Vertical Jump + Speed Combine
Monthly testing event with leaderboards and 'most improved' awards. Track progress and compete against yourself.
- 10m fly time
- 20-yard dash
- Broad jump
- Vertical jump
Intro to Track & Field
A 4-week introduction to track & field events. Great for athletes curious about the sport or looking to add track to their training.
- Week 1: Sprints & starts
- Week 2: Jumps basics (HJ/LJ)
- Week 3: Hurdle fundamentals
- Week 4: Mini-meet day (fun competition)
Homeschool Track PE
Structured daytime track & field PE program for homeschool students. Covers sprints, jumps, hurdles, and general athletic development in a fun, competitive environment.
- Daytime scheduling for homeschool families
- 6–10 week structured sessions
- All track & field events covered
- Fun competition + skill development
Fly higher. Clear more.
Whether your athlete is brand new to pole vault and jumps or preparing for their next meet, we have the coaching and structure to get them there.
All programs at Hermann Fitness — 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240