Our Team

Head Coaches

  • Raine discovered pickleball about two years ago and quickly fell in love with its perfect blend of social connection, friendly competition, and accessibility. She now plays competitively with the University of Washington’s pickleball team—Go Dawgs! Raine is passionate about introducing new players to the game and sharing the joy that pickleball brings.

  • Spencer is a student at the University of Washington studying psychology. He has been an avid pickleball player for over ten years and currently competes with the UW team. He loves to share his passion for sports with others and teach younger generations the skills necessary to succeed on and off the court!

  • Jayden Nguyen is a junior attending the University of Washington. He has been playing pickleball for 2 years now, before that played tennis all throughout highschool. Jayden works at the pickleball facility Sideout Tsunami so in his own words, "My whole life is pretty much pickleball!"

  • Hathaway first discovered her love for pickleball during her senior year of high school and hasn’t wanted to put her paddle down since. What began as a social activity with friends quickly turned into a competitive passion. Now, as a member of the University of Washington Pickleball Club, Hathaway continues to sharpen her skills and share her enthusiasm for the game. She’s especially excited to coach others, helping players build confidence, improve their skills, and enjoy pickleball as much as she does!

  • Sarah has loved playing sports for as long as she can remember, jumping into just about anything she could both at a recreational and competitive level, through college and now after. She was introduced to pickleball by a family friend a few years ago and quickly fell in love with the game.

    First with the welcoming community and approachable nature of the game, but eventually with the strategy, creativity, and the accessibility it offers for all ages.

    Sarah is especially passionate about helping kids find confidence, joy, and connection through movement and is excited to share her energy and love for pickleball through coaching new players!


  • Sam started playing pickleball in 2023 in an effort to build friendships and be able to spend time with family members who play. His love for the sport grew quickly and he began to compete in tournaments which resulted in capturing some medals in 4.5-5.0 tournaments! He strives to spread his passion for the sport and hopes to teach it to people of all age groups — from kids to grandparents.

  • Felix is a sophomore at the University of Washington studying Environmental Science and International Relations. His pickleball experience includes years of being creamed by retirees in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, as well as many late nights in heated competition with his friends, glow-in-the-dark pickleballs, glowsticks, and Lady Gaga blasting on a speaker. After working with children as a camp counselor and as a facepainter, he is really jazzed about no longer having to keep them still, but to get them to run around and whack that pickleball!

  • David comes from a football and powerlifting background. Being ignorant at first, he refused to play pickleball because he thought it was a game meant for older adults. One day in 2024, his fiancé forced him to go play with some friends and the rest was history.

    David has experience coaching middle school tackle and flag football. He’s been blessed to have the opportunity to pass down the life lessons and the work ethic that he’s gained from his own coaches to the youth. His favorite quote growing up was “Hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard”.

Assistant Coaches

  • Coach Jen is retired from a 30+ year career in healthcare.  She is passionate about everyone living their best life with a healthy lifestyle and instilling a love of physical activity in children. What she loves most about pickleball is meeting new friends on the court.

    A mom of two grown children, she was deeply active with volunteer roles in both school and extracurricular activities.  As a 14 year volunteer with Seattle Children’s Hospital she and her fellow guild members raise money for uncompensated care.

    When not playing pickleball, Coach Jen can be found at home with her husband and their 13 year old chocolate lab, walking around Kenmore, hiking all over the state, knitting at her local yarn shop or in her backyard garden.  

  • Ben is a freshman at the University of Washington, originally from Austin, Texas. He played tennis all throughout high school. At first, he refused to play pickleball as the pickleballers would always take up the tennis courts which he couldn’t stand, but when some friends finally convinced him, he realized that it’s quite a fun game and requires a lot of strategy. Playing pickleball has become a fun way for him to spend time with friends and family.

  • Emma is originally from the Philadelphia area and graduated from Penn State University. She has always had a passion for sports and the outdoors, growing up playing tennis and trying just about every sport she could. During college, Emma discovered pickleball while playing with friends and quickly grew to love the sport. She brings extensive experience working with kids through bike safety education, environmental and sustainability lessons, outdoor school programs, and day camps. Emma is passionate about creating positive learning experiences and encouraging kids to stay active, build confidence, and try new things. She is excited to combine her love of sports, the outdoors, and working with youth!

  • Sophia is a 4th year at the University of Washington studying Environmental Science and Food Systems. She grew up playing pickleball in her backyard but started playing competitively 2 years ago when she joined the UW pickleball team. She loves playing with her teammates, competing in tournaments and introducing new people to the sport. She is excited to share her love for pickleball!

  • Dylan is currently a student at the University of Washington, hoping to become a teacher in the future. He grew up with a pickleball court in his backyard and spent many summers playing with friends and family. For about two years he has been taking pickleball much more seriously and loves every minute he spends on the court trying to get better. But his favorite thing about the sport is the friends he has made getting out in the community. He can't wait to be a part of a team that gives kids the opportunity to get better and make great friends like he did.

  • Ross has been passionate about pickleball for over two decades, first discovering the sport in the early 1980s and returning to it in 2010—where it quickly became a lifelong passion. He loves sharing that enthusiasm with young players, helping them build confidence, learn new skills, and experience the joy of active play.

    Ross brings years of mentoring and coaching experience to the court. From 2008 to 2016, he coached and scheduled games for Pacific Little League, fostering teamwork and sportsmanship across hundreds of youth players.

    As a coach, Ross focuses on positivity, patience, and inclusivity—making sure every student feels welcome and supported. He believes games are one of the best ways to build both confidence and character. Outside of coaching, Ross enjoys spending time with his two college-aged sons, exploring new tabletop and role-playing games, and finding creative ways to bring storytelling and teamwork into everything he does.

  • Eric Nguyen is a sophomore at the University of Washington. He is from a small town called Longview, Washington, and attended Robert A. Long High School, where he participated in basketball, soccer, and tennis. He graduated from Lower Columbia College with an Associate's degree. His long-term goal is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Washington. In his free time, Eric has been playing pickleball for four years and is currently a member of the University of Washington pickleball team.

Interns

  • Cassandra (Yiming) Wang is a software engineer focused on building AI-enabled, data-driven systems. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Software Engineering at Northeastern University, with strengths in full-stack development, backend architecture, and intelligent application design. Her recent work involves developing scalable APIs, optimizing database and data-processing pipelines, and integrating large language models into production-oriented systems. She has experience designing AI features that support reasoning, personalization, and automated decision workflows, with attention to system reliability, cost efficiency, and deployment constraints. Her technical toolkit includes modern web frameworks, cloud-based services, and distributed system components used to support real-world applications. Cassandra’s work emphasizes translating AI capabilities into effective, maintainable software systems.

  • Xiaoya Wang is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Software Engineering at Northeastern University, with a strong interest in turning data into meaningful insights. Through technical internships in both industry and research settings, she has worked on data analysis, software development, and information systems projects that support real-world decision-making.
    As a Business Intelligence Intern with the Pickleball Forward Foundation, Xiaoya is excited to apply her analytical skills to support youth programs and community initiatives. She is especially motivated by opportunities to use data and technology to help organizations better understand their impact and strengthen the communities they serve.

  • Sagar Mittal is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at Northeastern University, Seattle. He brings over three years of experience building data pipelines and analytics solutions for various clients at Ernst & Young and Paytm. His expertise includes Python, SQL, data visualization, and business intelligence. Before moving to Seattle, Sagar worked extensively with enterprise clients, helping them transform raw data into meaningful insights that drove strategic decision-making and business growth. He is passionate about using data to solve real-world problems and create positive impact in the community. Sagar is excited to contribute to Pickleball Forward Foundation's mission of empowering youth through pickleball and looks forward to supporting the Seattle community through his work with the organization.

Officers & Board of Directors

DIRECTOR OF COACHING AND CURRICULUM

  • Coach T is an experienced youth coach with a background in Frisbee, volleyball, and pickleball. As Head Coach of the Let’s Play Pickleball Program, he leads coaches, designs curriculum, and helps athletes of all levels grow in a structured, supportive environment. Known for connecting with kids, Coach T is committed to teaching fundamentals, sportsmanship, and fostering confidence through the game.

BOARD MEMBER

  • Jim Bialick combines a lifelong passion for sports with deep experience in community health, education, and public service. A regular on the pickleball court, he believes movement and play build confidence and connection. Professionally, Jim has advised six Congresses and Presidential Administrations on human services and technology policy, bringing a strategic, equity-focused perspective to his work as a board member.

BOARD MEMBER

  • Ta-Ming has played racquet sports his whole life, with a competitive background in badminton. Today, pickleball is his passion—drawn by its strategy, accessibility, and strong community. What started out as a pickleball class he coached at his son’s school has grown into a youth program spanning multiple school districts across the Greater Seattle Area.

    As a parent of two school-aged kids, Ta-Ming is dedicated to helping young players build confidence and have fun through pickleball. He’s grateful for this incredible team who share that mission and is excited to continue expanding opportunities for kids to learn and grow in the sport.

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