Our Coaches

Head Coach

Mark Ianni

  • Author of The Perfect Guide To Acing Pickleball (500+ Five-Star Reviews)
  • Certified PPR Instructor with 9+ Years Playing & Coaching Experience
  • Specialist in Coaching Players 50+ to Improve Fast & Stay Injury-Free
  • Creator of a Smart-Play System Focused on Strategy Over Power

Coach

Russel Elefterion

  • 16 years of pickleball experience
  • Certified since 2016 (IPTPA, IFP 2018, PPR 2025)
  • 36 years of certified coaching experience across multiple sports
  • Worked with over 80 pickleball pros worldwide 

Coach

Darlene Vendegna

  • PPR & IPTPA Certified Pickleball Instructor
  • 2023 Alameda County Woman of the Year (Sports & Fitness)
  • Gold Medalist at the 2024 Maui Labor Day Classic
  • Founder of Pickleball Programs at Claremont Country Club & East Bay YMCAs

Coach

Mark Wagner

  • Winner of 4 out of 7 National Tour Tournaments at Men’s 4.5 (50+)
  • Medalist at APP, PPA, and USA Pickleball Tournaments
  • Former Top 200 Doubles & Top 300 Singles Player (ATP Rankings)
  • Competed at Wimbledon, US Open, and French Open Multiple Times

Coach

Jorge Andrew

  • 8+ Years Pickleball Coaching Experience
  • 45+ Years Total Coaching Expertise
  • PPR Coach Developer & International Master Professional
  • 5-Time Hall of Fame Inductee

Coach

Dave Houston

  • Nor Cal USPTA Division Hall of Fame Member
  • Certified Pickleball Pro specializing in foundation building
  • Expert in partner chemistry and communication strategies
  • Master of the “copycat the pros” methodology

Coach

Timothy Ton

  • 4 years of dedicated pickleball coaching experience
  • PPR, IPTPA, and USAPA certified instructor
  • Competed internationally in Mexico & Asia
  • Featured onFox & NBC for pickleball excellence

Coach

Matty & MeiShen Klein

  • 13+ Years Coaching (879 Clinics Taught)
  • IPTPA/PPR Certified Instructors
  • 30+ Gold Medals Across 75 Tournaments, 
  • Co-Taught 500+ Clinics & Founded Pickleball Programs in 3 Communities

Coach

Kelvin Holdrick

  • 4 years of dedicated coaching experience
  • 6 years of competitive playing experience
  • PPR certified instructor
  • Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal winner in multiple tournaments throughout SoCal

Coach

Mark Knell

  • 47+ Years of Racquet Sports Experience
  • 4+ Years as Head Pickleball Coach at Westlake Athletic Club
  • Built the Westlake Pickleball Program to Nearly 300 Members
  • Coached the Westlake Team at Conejo Valley Tournaments

Coach

Dave & Tracy Wilcox

  • Medaled in 50+ Tournaments Across 7 States
  • Multiple Golden Ticket Winners to Nationals
  • Regional & Super Regional Champions (Qualified for Nationals)
  • Competed & Medaled from 3.0 to 5.0 in All Divisions

Alan Schwartz

  • PCI Certified Pickleball Coach
  • 30+ years of overall coaching experience across 7 sports
  • Compete regularly at 4.5 level
  • Specialize in mindset training

Coach

Jerry & Mary Downing

  • Jerry Nominated to the St. Petersburg Seniors Hall of Fame for Community Impact Through Pickleball
  • Certified Pickleball Instructors with Proven Training Methodologies
  • Known as “Pickleball Secret Weapons” by Fellow Certified Instructors
  • Builders of the Thriving St. Petersburg Pickleball Community & Red Cross CPR/First Aid Certified

Coach

Alex Baschoff

  • PPR Certified Pickleball Instructor
  • Gold Medal Finisher with Consistent Placements in Competitive 3.5 & 4.0 Divisions
  • Specialist in Breaking Down Complex Movements Into Simple, Repeatable Steps
  • Proven Track Record Helping Players 50+ Achieve Breakthrough Results

Coach

Alvin Tabios

  • PPR Certified Pickleball Instructor & Multi-Sport Coach with a Lifetime of Coaching Experience
  • Former Baseball & Martial Arts Coach with Expertise in Player Development at All Levels
  • Specialist in Building Confidence Through Supportive, Fun Learning Environments
  • Proven Track Record Turning Casual Players Into Committed, Improving Competitors

Coach

Bee Kilgore

  • 5x National Champion & 6x US Open Champion with an English Open Title (2024)
  • Ranked #6 Masters Senior Pro Nationally
  • Active Competitor at 71 — Living Proof That Championships Are Won at Any Age
  • Decades of Elite Experience Specializing in Senior-Level Championship Play

Coach

Brett Noel

  • 3-Time National Champion & International Pickleball Instructor
  • Expert in the Modern, Aggressive Style of Play That Wins at the Highest Levels
  • Trains & Mentors Fellow Instructors — Bringing Elite Teaching Standards to Every Camp
  • Specialist in Small Adjustments That Create Massive, Measurable Breakthroughs

Coach

David Nehdar

  • PPR Certified Instructor & Active APP Tour Competitor with a 4.7 DUPR Rating
  • Bronze Medalist in Men’s 5.5 50+ & Silver Medalist in 60+ 4.5 Singles
  • 5 Years Playing & Coaching Experience Specializing in Beginner & Intermediate Players
  • Brings Real Tournament Mindset to Every Lesson, Teaching You How Top Players Think & Compete

Coach

Drew McCall Burke

  • 5 Years Pickleball Coaching Experience Backed by 30 Years of Overall Coaching Expertise
  • Former Yoga, Bootcamp & Tennis Instructor with Deep Understanding of Movement & Athletic Performance
  • Specialist in Helping Women 50+ Unlock Their True Potential Through Smart, Strategic Play
  • Dedicated to Building Confidence, Friendships & Real Breakthroughs on the Court

Coach

Jeanne Burgess

  • IPTPA Certified Instructor with 62 Years of Coaching Experience, Starting at Age 16
  • 10 Years of Pickleball Experience & 9 Years Coaching Players of All Ages & Abilities
  • Former Coach in Ice Skating, Windsurfing, Snowkiting & Stand-Up Paddleboarding
  • Specialist in Making Pickleball Fun, Social & Accessible for Women 50+

Coach

Jon Longway

  • PPR Certified Instructor with 4+ Years of Hands-On Coaching Experience
  • 18 Tournament Medals Including Active International Competition in Mexico
  • Former Surfing, Basketball & Baseball Coach, Bringing Elite Movement & Balance to the Court
  • Focused on Building Confidence, Consistency & Real On-Court Results

Coach

Paul Pasquarosa

  • IPTPA Certified Instructor with 55 Years of Coaching Experience, Starting at Age 19
  • Seniors State Champion in Both Massachusetts & Rhode Island
  • Former Football, Basketball & Baseball Coach Now at Age 74 & Still Competing
  • Dedicated to Helping Players in Their 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s Unlock Their True Potential

Coach

Pete Nagy

  • PPR Certified Instructor with Multiple 1st & 2nd Place Finishes in Competitive 3.5 & 4.0 Divisions
  • 1st Place Winner in 4.0 Mixed Doubles at Sports Fest in Ixtapa, Mexico
  • Brings a Professional Photographer’s Eye for Detail, Spotting Technique Issues Others Miss
  • Known for Contagious Energy That Makes Every Session Motivating, Focused & Fun

Coach

Rich Scipione

  • IPTPA Level I & II and PPR Certified Pickleball Instructor
  • Author of 50 Tips for Better Pickleball Coaching Guide
  • President of Trilogy Lake Norman Pickleball Club & Active Community Leader
  • 7+ Years of Experience Specializing in Fundamentals, Strategy & Technique for Recreational & Intermediate Players

Coach

Sean Bailey

  • PPR Certified Instructor & Georgia State Champion with a National Singles Championship Title
  • Gold Medalist at the Cresswind Classic & Multiple Medal Finishes Across Georgia Tournaments
  • 7 Years of Pickleball Experience with 5 Years of Dedicated Coaching Expertise
  • Specialist in Competitive Strategy & Tournament Play for Players 50+

Coach

Suzanne Bernstein

  • IPTPA & PPR Certified Playing Professional & Pickleball Teaching Expert
  • Competed in Senior Pro Singles, Senior Pro Mixed Doubles & Pro Women’s Doubles
  • PPA Desert Ridge Tournament Medalist in Senior Mixed Doubles (January 2023)
  • Dedicated to Helping Women 50+ Unlock Their True Potential Through Smart, Strategic Play

Coach

Todd Aasen

  • Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional with 4 Years of Playing & 2 Years of Coaching Experience
  • Golf Instruction Background Bringing Precision, Patience & Athletic Fundamentals to the Court
  • Coaching Weekend Camps Throughout Minnesota with a Focus on Breakthrough Moments
  • Dedicated to Helping Players 50+ Unlock Their True Potential Through Smart, Strategic Play

Coach

Zaida E Rivera

  • Gold Medalist at the 2025 ATPL National Championships in Arizona
  • Silver Medalist at Florida Senior Games & Florida–Georgia Pickleball Classic
  • Competed at 4.0–5.0 Levels & Trained Alongside Professionals Including Jorge Capestany & Dayne Gingrich
  • 3 Years of Competitive Playing & Coaching Experience at the National Tournament Level

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