Walnut Creek Pickleball Club
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Walnut Creek, California
Pickleball Lessons
Simply scroll down to view our coaches and then get in touch with your preferred coach for group, private or semi-private lessons. Our coaches cater to all ages and skill levels.
All instructors are members of the Walnut Creek Pickleball Club
MEET OUR COACHES
George Lent
IPTPA Certified
Drills, Skills and Thrills with
George "Rusty" Lent
I am a certified teaching instructor. Been involved in this game with the funny name for over 20 years, playing and tournaments, been instructing for over 10. I can teach all levels, beginner up to the very advanced. I will show you the proper technique some new skills with heavy emphasis on you having fun in the process. Get in touch with Rusty at lentfam@yahoo.com or at 925-676-9148
I’ve been playing pickleball since 2015 and have become an avid player and advocate for the game. I’ve met thousands of people, many of whom have become close friends, colleagues, and business partners. In 2019, I became a certified instructor and USA Pickleball Association Ambassador, and in 2020, I created National Pickleball Day - celebrated each year on August 8.
In 2023, I was the tournament director for the Bay Area Youth (BAY) Pickleball tournament in Oakley working with colleagues in Santa Rosa and Discovery Bay to bring more awareness for youth programs and tournaments; as a result, more local tournaments are including a youth division. I’ve also been fortunate to coach at Richmond / San Pablo elementary schools, Orinda Intermediate School, and The College Preparatory School in Oakland. In addition, I run a monthly roundrobin league in Lafayette, and hold the position of Secretary for the Walnut Creek Pickleball Club Board of Directors.
Please contact me at 415.505.7774 |deirdre8morris@gmail.com.
Deirdre (Dee) Morris
PPR Certified Coach
Ti Caudron
Instructor with Pickleball Coaching International
Do you feel intimidated about getting into certain pickleball games or feel disappointed about tournament play and want to get to the next level fast? In her 2-day, small group clinics, Ti’s positive, infectious spirit and sharp coaching eye help frustrated picklers get better quickly and fall in love with the game all over again. Ti has an eye for identifying the flaws in your game and a knack for providing specialized personal feedback and strategic insights that let you capitalize on your strengths and transform your weaknesses. With her accelerated, small group format, and the warm, positive environment she creates, her clinics provide a unique opportunity for you to get the personalized attention that will make the biggest difference in your skills and game. Her focus is to uplevel the foundational skills for your soft game, sharpen your strategic awareness and pickleball weapons, and gain the confidence you need to walk onto any court and excel.
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Contact: 510-501-9376 (preferred) or ti@vitalitiwellness.com
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Manny DeGuzman
Pickleball Professional
PPR Certified
Manny DeGuzman was born in Manila Philippines and moved to the US at a very young age where his family settled in San Francisco, later moving to Daly City. Manny played on the Boy’s tennis team Junior & Senior year and joined the US ARMY after graduation and served 4 years active duty as an Airborne Infantryman assigned to 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Infantry Division (South Korea), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), achieving the rank of Sergeant (Non-Commissioned Officer). He attended CSU Hayward and earned BS in Criminal Justice Administration. Like so many, Manny discovered Pickleball at the onset of the Pandemic and fell in love with the sport as it incorporated many aspects of sports he enjoyed playing at a competitive level (Tennis, Ping-Pong, and Badminton) and quickly started coaching as his love of teaching was a perfect transition into a sport experiencing amazing growth.
Currently, Manny is the Head Pickleball Pro at Moraga Country Club, Bay Club-Renaissance, and is a contracted Pickleball Pro at Lafayette Tennis Club, working with Carmen Sanz Pickleball Team. Also, Manny is the owner operator of BE Pickleball Academy, a mobile teaching academy that travels to student's courts. Lastly, Manny is an independent paddle representative with Thrive Pickleball, Las Vegas NV.
Manny works with individuals from all levels... from those who are completely new to pickleball to as high as current PPA, NAPP, APP Pros' Annie Tichenor and Nicholas Wade.
"You are only as good as what you constantly do... and I love teaching pickleball" -Manny
Contact Manny at es_deguzman@yahoo.com
Member of the
Professional Pickleball Registry
USA Pickleball Ambassador
Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Carolyn is a Senior Pro Pickleball Player, USA Pickleball Ambassador and PPR/PTR Certified Coach.
Competes at the 5.0/Sr Pro level and has won over 10 Gold medals in singles, doubles and mixed in the USA and Europe.
Competed in USTA Norcal tennis for over 40 years and represented the USA in ITF World Senior Team Cup competition in 2007 & 2009.
Coached tennis at the Claremont Resort and Sleepy Hollow Swim and Tennis Club, Head Royce School and Piedmont High School.
Carolyn Wei
PPR/PTR Certified Coach
Darlene Vendegna has been coaching various sports for decades, with pickleball added five years ago. She’s taught all ages from 6 to 90 at parks all over the San Francisco Bay Area, and in the Midwest, as well as Turks & Caicos and Punta Cana. She started the pickleball program at Sequoyah Country Club and Claremont Country Club in Oakland, and is currently one of the teaching pros at the new Craneway Pavilion. “I love the light that comes into somebody’s eyes and the grin on their face the first time they participate in a successful rally. If they laugh during play that’s an extra bonus.” She’s a PPR Certified Coach as well as an Ambassador with the USA Pickleball Association. Her motto is PICKLEBALL TO THE PEOPLE.
Darlene Vendegna
PPR Certified Coach
Pickleball Dreams with
Carmen Sanz
CONTACT INFRMATION
​925 475-9381
carmensanzpickleball@gmail.com
Instagram:carmensanzpickleball
Carmen Sanz
PPR Certified Pro Coach
First woman to be certified by ITPTA in Northern California
IPTPA Certified Pickleball Coach
Pickleball 5.0 player (Pro)
Former top 5 Padel Player in the World
Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education
USPTA Tennis Coach for over 10 years (2003 - 2015)
Multilingual coach: English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian
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Please, contact me at 650 218-3468
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See my site at https://pickleballplayers.com/
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Patricia Strazzi
IPTPA Certified Coach
Call (925)822-7491
website: www.ParagonTennis.com
Paragon Pickleball Mastery Camps: Advanced Skills for Intermediate Players
Description: Learn advanced pickleball skills to take your game to the next level!
Email Drew Diefenbach at ParagonPickleball@gmail.com
Founder / Contra Costa Sports Foundation
USTA High Performance Coach
USPTA Certified Elite Professional
USTA NorCal 2020 Men’s 5.0 Singles Player of the Year
IPTPA Level II Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional
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