University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE VAULTERS FLYING HIGH AGAIN
May 31, 2007 | Men's Track
May 31, 2007
By Jeff Trembley, Trackshark.com
In August 2005, The University of Tennessee recruited one of its most valuable contributors to its track and field program, for the second time. Mentioning his name is enough to bring a smile to head coach Bill Webb's face. Although Russ Johnson completed his athletic eligibility in 1999, he has not lost his competitive spirit or desire to dominate in the pole vault.
His two years as the volunteer assistant pole vault coach have been just that, dominant. Johnson is four for four in Southeastern Conference pole vault titles and has coached two individuals to All-American honors. As a student-athlete at Tennessee he developed a deep commitment to the university and its track and field program. Johnson even found his life partner on the track in Knoxville in 1997.
In 2002 he married the former Lesly Love who was an All-American sprinter on the Lady Vols track team. The consistent improvement of his athletes, their organization at meets and his determined demeanor has many across the country asking what the new kid in Knoxville is up to.
As a collegiate vaulter from 1995 to 1999 at Tennessee, Johnson contributed to the 1996 SEC team title, won the indoor vault title in 1998, and finished his career as a three time All-American.
With an indoor personal record of 5.55 (18' 2.5") and an outdoor personal record of 5.65 (18'6.5"), Johnson personally understands what it takes and to excel in the event. For five years he was roommates with 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist and Olympic record holder, Tim Mack.
Many of his evenings with Mack consisted of dissecting video of their practices, studying video of elite vaulters, and sharpening their fine motor movements by playing hours of Golden Eye on Nintendo 64.
The Carrollton, Georgia native remains in Knoxville, Tennessee and works as a physical therapist at South Eastern Orthopedic Therapy. Since coming to Knoxville in the mid 1990's, Johnson's love for the region, university and track and field program has grown deep. He has volunteered countless hours to the program in his two years as a coach.
When asked if he's got any particular formula or philosophy for the vault he says, "I don't have any particular philosophies. I've just continued with the training routines and ideals Coach Jim BeMiller (Tim Mack's Olympic Coach) implemented in the late 1980's." Johnson credits BeMiller for building the template for what the vault should look like and how one should train to achieve maximum results. Johnson has taken his experiences as Tim Mack and Lawrence Johnson's teammate, the influence of BeMiller and the clean canvas given by head coach, Bill Webb to paint his own picture.
That picture is progressing nicely as Johnson adds personal touches to the direction of the vaulting program at Tennessee. "I emphasize for my guys to become better all around athletes and to out train their opponents. Johnson describes Coach Bill Webb as the master of all trades when it comes to track and field events, "Coach Webb should be given a lot of the credit for the steady technical and physical progress of the vaulters."
Webb's interest in the event and his eye for finding new talent gives Coach Johnson hopes that Tennessee vault will return to its grandeur from the 1990's. "Like Coach Webb, I am attracted to the kids with both a passion for the event and a desire to get better."
In two short years of coaching at Tennessee, he has seen his share of exciting and inspiring moments. Though he cannot highlight one, Johnson says, "All four of our Southeastern Conference meets were successful experiences. In my first indoor championship, Michael Hogue won the vault a few months after undergoing surgery to fix a life threatening blood clot. Decathlete Chris Helwick, jumped 16' 9" to take third in the same meet.."
Later that year during the outdoor competition, Johnson helped his athletes tally 21 points with a first place finish in Chris Helwick and two of his athletes tying for third. Johnson enjoyed his third consecutive SEC vault title as a coach in the 2007 indoor season, "Hogue won the event after a five bar jump off. It was like watching a heavyweight slugfest that went twelve rounds. I was especially proud of the group during this year's SEC outdoor competition. Hogue won his third SEC title, but Andy Lane's performance was invigorating because he suffered through severe back pain all season, endured a few cortisone injections in his spine and executed an altered training cycle to finish second. Freshman Brad Holtz finished fifth and Helwick tied for sixth to bring 24.5 points to the team that eventually led to an SEC team title. I was proud to see all four guys jump outdoor season bests and grab more points than any team in any single event."
When asked where he would like to take the vault at Tennessee, Johnson replied, "I hope to continue to build a core group of three to five vaulters. The goal is to have each athlete consistently jumping well over 16' 6" and one or two at the elite level around 18' 0" to 19' 0". I'd like to see a few guys be competitive on the elite level and make a career out of it like many of my former teammates from Tennessee. Because I emphasize the tradition handed down at The University of Tennessee, my athletes train as a cooperative group. I feel that's the best way to dominate the Southeastern Conference and have two vaulters at Nationals each year. I also hope to develop another Olympian."
Time will tell whether Coach Russ Johnson's vision will be realized, but at its current pace, I don't think many would challenge. No one can argue with the impact Johnson has made on the pole vault program in Knoxville, but Tim Mack may disagree with Johnson's claim that, "I was much better at Golden Eye. Mack was an easy kill."
