16 coaches for lessons in Olympia, WA

Ever felt the thrill of a perfectly placed volley? I've dedicated 30 years to honing my skills, competing at the collegiate level, and fostering a love for the game in others. As your coach, I'll bring my experience and infectious enthusiasm to every lesson, helping you elevate your game with personalized strategies and techniques.

"One of the best parts of the lesson was the focus on technique, which really helped improve my game. Esteban’s approach made the session both productive and enjoyable. I’d recommend anyone looking to sharpen their skills to give his lessons a try. It’s a great way to build a solid foundation in tennis! 🎾

My name is Rusty, I am a PCI certified PB coach from Tacoma, WA. My introduction to and journey with pickleball is one of a kind and my story alone. If I could sum it up in a few short sentences I would. Due to the uniqueness and length, it will take a bit more. My dad was a Tacoma firefighter and competitive handball player. They had courts at the station, and I started playing with dad and his buddies. Handball is a tough game for a 14-year-old. One day after playing handball, I had to go to baseball practice, my hands were so sore I couldn’t catch the ball, hold a bat or throw the ball without wincing and looking like a baby. I came home and told my dad how terrible practice that day was, he quickly remedied that by sawing off the handle of an old wooden tennis racquet. This worked for about a month, and we decided that a real racquet was in order. My dad knew of a guy up on the Hilltop that was the top racquetball player in the Pacific NW. We went to his little shop, and I met the owner, Sid Williams. (Future Hall of Famer, Original Founder of the USAPA and Original Pioneer of Pickleball), He outfitted me with a new aluminum Leach (I still have it). Little did I know that he would become one of my closest friends a mentor and confidant. Sid became my coach as I started to show promise in local tournaments beating all the ‘old guys’. Fast forward 4 years, one month after my high school graduation, 1978. Sid called and said grab your gear, we are playing this afternoon at the new Family Fitness Center. As I was getting warmed up and my gear ready, he laughed and said “you won’t need all that, we are playing pickleball”. I had never seen nor heard of ‘pickleball’, I thought to myself, what a silly name. But Sid being who he was to me, I rather reluctantly agreed. The courts were all indoor/outdoor carpet, we had a whiffle ball and wooden paddles. I had an absolute blast that day. We played as much as we could that summer, all indoors, all at the Family Fitness Center. There were no such thing as outdoor courts yet. I went to work for the Club and after the summer was over, I left for college to play baseball. After three years of college baseball, I returned home to Tacoma and right back to the club to play racquetball. In my absence pickleball had picked up steam, it was growing, and the courts were usually full. At the same time my sales career was taking off as well. I played both sports whenever I could. Sid was running racquetball tournaments and I was his right-hand man. We would play in the mornings and afterwards we would head out to secure sponsorships donations and door prizes. I didn’t know it at the time, but Sid was giving me a “Master Class” of running tournaments. Somewhere around 1984-85, he took his format and applied it to pickleball. This is where competitive pickleball begins. I was there in the beginning of the new era. Singles was the game at the time and there was one guy I could never beat. Heck no one could beat. Future Hall of Famer Billy Jacobson was that guy. He was the best. Can’t think of a time or tournament that he didn’t dominate. So, I became a doubles specialist. Winning the 1st Annual Washington Open Games for mixed doubles. Billy didn’t play that division. This was the biggest pickleball tourney ever, anywhere. It was sponsored by Nalley and sanctioned by the newly formed USAPA. I loved spending time with Sid on and off the courts. He was truly one of a kind. I loved him dearly and miss him greatly. I played as much as I could, but as a young man at 26 years old I was building a career and was coaching football basketball and baseball at the Boys and Girls Club, there wasn’t a lot of free time. Yet, I was always there with Sid running the tournaments. The Open Games was the last time I played competitively. I took a break to be a college baseball coach, get married and start a family, helping Sid whenever I could. Well now it is September 2022, I am 62 years old. I haven’t played pickleball in 30 years. But this is post pandemic, I was burned out in Corporate America, a suit and tie every day. I wanted to do something that I loved, I wanted to have fun again, I just wanted to be me. The coach and athlete. Sitting around one night with some friends, they asked what I was going to do now. I said, “I am going to make a living playing and coaching pickleball”. As you can imagine we all had a good laugh. I started playing again, I started the process to form a charitable organization named, “The Sid Williams Foundation” and ‘Sids’ Kids’, “bringing pickle to the public” With all that is happening now in pickleball a new company was in order, I named my new company Pickleball OG *coaching*consulting*construction. Today, I play 5-6 days a week, I teach lessons in all shapes and sizes. I consult with paddle companies and with the construction of new facilities both private and public. If I can help in you in any way pickle related, reach out.

"Honestly, Rusty's lesson stood out because of how he broke down some tricky shots, which really helped my consistency. Though the pace was steady, I appreciated how he tailored the advice to my style. Still, I left feeling quite confident about applying what I learned. If you're looking for a coach who’s precise and thoughtful, Rusty’s worth trying out.

In my mid-30s, I ventured into golfing and initially faced significant challenges with the game. For a while, I didn't take formal lessons and struggled to find my stride. However, once I committed to following instruction and advice, my enjoyment of the game began to grow exponentially. Now, I eagerly join my golf group for weekly rounds across the Puget Sound area, relishing every opportunity to play. Teaching others has become a passion of mine, and I eagerly share my knowledge whenever someone expresses interest in learning.

"Kevin was very helpful

Passionate pickleball enthusiast and competitive player. 5-time gold medalist in 6 tournaments with a 4.5 ranking. Led successful pickleball workshops for 9 YMCA centers. Former college football player and pro athlete in Germany. Dreaming of turning pro in pickleball while sharing my love for the game and teaching others.

"The lesson with Kellen was outstanding, especially with the instant feedback that highlighted where I need more practice. Kellen's approach feels practical without overdoing it, and the friendly guidance is always reassuring. I look forward to learning how to score and play a game.

I've been a tennis coach for over 10 years, helping players of all levels develop their skills and unlock their full potential on the court. I'm passionate about the game and believe in creating a fun and engaging learning environment where everyone can thrive.

Fueling passion on the court for over 9 years, I empower players to elevate their game. As an experienced player myself let's achieve your tennis goals together with focus and fun! I played tennis throughout high school and wanted to go pro until my injury during a state tournament which left me having to quit for the rest of the season. I still play tennis to this day and love playing and teaching others! I love being outside with my dog panda, going on hikes and adventures. Love having fun even when learning as I feel that it helps everyone retain information better.

My tennis journey began in high school and has never ended. My college courses were intense and became my focus away from sports. During summer breaks I took time to learn more sports including soccer and basketball while maintaining my tennis skills. The past few years have been interesting as I have picked up a tennis routine again in the midst of covid and would like to share my passion for tennis.

"Wonderful coach with a full set of equipment from fresh strings and new balls and also provides water and energy drinks. Energetic style of coaching that keeps me engaged and on my feet running for more.