Russ Carroll has been involved in marching band and color guard since high school, 1991. Russ started teaching color guard in 1996, and performed with Volunteers Drum and Bugle Corps (Knoxville ,TN) in 1997. Moving to Colorado in 1999, to attend University of Colorado at Boulder, Russ began teaching color guard for Lakewood High School in 2001.

Since 2001, Russ has worked with numerous schools across the Colorado front range. Russ started with Oracle Winter Guard in 2006, continued with Opus X as a performer, instructor, and became director for the 2018 season. As a member of Oracle Performance Ensemble since 2005, Russ was inducted into the OPE hall of fame in 2026. Russ has spent time with Blue Knights as color guard and visual instructional staff 2006-2008. Troopers color guard instructional staff 2011 and 2012, visual staff 2019, horn line movement and choreography. Crossmen visual staff 2015, horn line movement and choreography. Bluecoats 2022, color guard equipment technician.