Track & Field
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant - Pole Vault
2017-18 will mark Russ Johnson's 13th season as a Volunteer Assistant Coach with the track & field team as he coaches the Tennessee pole vaulters.
Johnson was named the 2015 National Collegiate Coach of the Year (large college division) by the USA Track and Field Pole Vault High Performance and Development Committee. Johnson has been one of the most successful NCAA Division I Coaches in recent years, having mentored a number of great pole vaulters the past few years, including NCAA Division 1 All-American and Team USA Member, Jake Blankenship.
In Blankenship’s senior year, Johnson helped him win the NCAA Outdoor Championship with a clearance of 5.60m in the championship. Blankenship also claimed the 2015 and 2016 Outdoor SEC Championships after a second place finish as a sophomore. Blankenship soared over the 19-foot barrier twice and placed third at the US National Championships and the Pan American Games. He also represented and competed for Team USA at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.
Johnson, a former elite vaulter himself, jumped 18-6.50 for the Vols and legendary UT pole vaulting coach, Jim Beemiller. He still remains as one of the greatest vaulters in the university's illustrious pole vaulting history, along with 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Lawrence Johnson, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and former training partner Tim Mack (18-4.50) and Blankenship.
After an illustrious career as a Vol vaulter, Johnson earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Tennessee in sports medicine then another master's in physical therapy from the Medical College of Georgia. Johnson returned to Knoxville and began working with the UT men's team in 2006. Since then, he has produced multiple SEC champions and All-Americans.
