Meet The Coach: Derek Cullison

Derek and his wife Jordan have 3 boys Everett(9) Forrest(7) Watson (5)and June (1) the little girl who runs the house. They reside on the Eastside of Indianapolis, IN, where DCPV has a state of the art outdoor facility.

With a deep passion for the sport, expertise of body movement and over 15 years of vaulting of his own, Derek Cullison created DC Athletics to support young athletes from all background. After graduating from Danville High School, Derek furthered his track & field career as a Boilermaker pole vaulter at Purdue University while gaining practical knowledge pursuing a degree in Health & Kinesiology. After earning a Bachelor in Science, he decided to further his career in strength and conditioning with a focus on track and field by starting a program dedicated to helping younger athletes.

About us

DC Athletics is a privately owned outdoor pole vaulting facility built to accommodate a variety of jumpers from beginners to elite. 

The outdoor facility is equipped with 3 pits, a raised runway, and an array of gymnastic-type equipment for drills all tucked back in the woods on coach Cullison’s 16 acre homestead. With walking trails to keep you active while you wait.  

Coaching Career:

Derek coached for Carmel High School, where he has helped lead the boys team to its first ever National Championship in 2021 and 4 state titles in 2021, 2017, 2016, and 2015. In 2017, Coach Cullison assisted stand-out athlete Ryan Lipe (now at Alabama) win back-to-back Indiana State Championships in the pole vault with heights of 17' as a junior and 17'3" as a senior. That same year, Carmel athletes Kara Deady (now at IU) and Mitch Lipe (now at Airforce Academy) placed 2nd and 4th respectively. For a period of time, Derek coached at Lawrence Central where he helped lead five individuals to state qualifications and helped develop one of the female vaulters into a National pole vault Champion in June of 2012, with head coach Tim Richey. 

Derek has run pole vault camps and clinics with coach Tim Richey since January 2008. Along with his passion for the pole vault, Derek is dedicated to the science of strength and conditioning. With a certification in Olympic Weight lifting, USAW level one coach, Derek furthers his education by attending clinics and networks with other coaches from the area in pole vault, speed and strength. Derek also currently serves as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for Eastern Hancock Schools.

Philosophy

DC Athletics is based on a functional design to teach athletes how to control their bodies and move through correct patterns related to their sport. By focusing on running mechanics over cones, hurdles and with resistance, this process helps vaulters develop proper speed and power to become the best they can be.