Coaches & Lessons
Our teaching pros have extensive experience teaching and coaching every skill level of player.
Click their photos to read their bios and see their lesson pricing!
Meet Our Coaches
Our Coaches
Private lessons, group lessons, ball machine lessons, and more!
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Steve is a former high-level racquetball player with over 25 years of competitive experience, more than 100 tournaments, and numerous trophies in the open division. Beyond teaching at the club level, he also taught racquetball at the local community college. For the last five years, his obsession has been pickleball — "I've never known someone to quit pickleball!" — and he's earned medals at both PPA and APP events, along with his PPR coaching certification in 2024.
Steve's teaching philosophy is "Pickleball Progression": making sure you have every foundational skill in place before moving to the next level. He starts by analyzing your game — grip, stance, paddle preparation, contact point, weight transfer, and ready position — then works on consistency, accuracy, positioning, and the strengths and weaknesses of both you and your opponents. Each lesson finishes with game-based play or a drill to test your progress, with the goal of leaving you able to self-analyze so you don't fall back into old habits.
Whenever possible, Steve loves to jump into open play with you right after a lesson. He'll also send you home with homework: links to standout coaching videos tied to the exact skills you're working on, near-term goals, and drills to keep building toward your potential. He looks forward to meeting you and doing everything he can to help you level up.
STEVE
COACH'S BIO
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LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$100
SEMI PRIVATE
$65
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$50
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
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Senior Pro Player and Coach PPR Certified Professional 916-380-8879
2025 PPA Senior Pro Tour Rankings - #2 Women’s Mixed Doubles, #3 Women’s Doubles
CRBN Sponsored Pro DUPR 5.25
Results 2025/26 PPA - 3 Gold Medals, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze
NPL - Austin Ignite Team (Senior Pro League)
2024 National Champion in Women’s 55+ 5.5
Member of Team USA for 2026 Maccabi Games
Pro Instructor ⁃ currently over 100+ students Coaching background ⁃ coached Varsity High School girls basketball ⁃ Personal Trainer
Jennifer
COACH'S BIO
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LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$135
SEMI PRIVATE
$80
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$65
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
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Jalendra (JB) Shrestha is a PPR certified pickleball coach. He has been playing racquet sports since the age of 7 years old. He played tennis for Galena High School, and learned the game of tennis at Reno Tennis Center. Two years ago he was introduced to pickleball and has become passionate about the sport and coaching others.
In 2025 JB created Yeti Pickleball Coaching LLC. with a focus on fundamentals and the technique of the Sport. JB enjoys serving his community and previously worked as a Paramedic. JB is also a local real estate agent and enjoys meeting new people. In his down time, he loves to take photographs, spend time with his family, and be outdoors. “Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.” Michael Jordan.
Jalendra "JB"
COACH'S BIO
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LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$100
SEMI PRIVATE
$75
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$50
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
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Originally from the Fresno area, Alan Guthrie has been teaching tennis for over 45 years and pickleball for the past few seasons. As a tennis player, he won back-to-back conference championships with Fresno City College before jumping into the retail world by opening his own tennis store at age 25 and operating it for 25 years.
As a teaching pro, Alan ran the junior program at Serrano Country Club in the Eldorado Hills. And he has embraced the recent growth of pickleball and is constantly expanding his pickleball knowledge and teaching capability.
Alan
COACH'S BIO
Book Now
LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$100
SEMI PRIVATE
$65
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$50
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
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Troy Akin stands out as a highly accomplished professional pickleball player and a deeply dedicated coach at 3rd Shot Pickleball Reno. He seamlessly blends his experience from the professional tour with a genuine passion for teaching, making him an invaluable asset to the club's coaching staff.
Troy is committed to helping players of all skill levels—from absolute beginners to aspiring tournament competitors—elevate their game. His lessons are built on a philosophy of mastering fundamentals while integrating advanced, modern strategies used at the highest level of the sport. Whether you are looking to refine your dinking game, perfect your third shot drops, or simply build confidence and court awareness, Troy brings a structured, results-oriented approach. With Troy's elite-level expertise, you gain not just a coach, but a mentor dedicated to unlocking your full potential on the pickleball court.
Troy
Akin
COACH'S BIO
LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$150
SEMI PRIVATE
$100
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$75
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
Next Coach >
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Pickleball isn’t just my job—it’s my passion, my playground, my obsession. I’ve always been driven by competition—whether it’s sports, board games, or anything that requires strategy and skill. So when I found pickleball, I was all in. The speed, the chess-like strategy, and the incredible community hooked me instantly, and now I get to share that passion with players looking to take their game to the next level.
As a 5.0+ player and one of just 26 DUPR Master Instructors in the world, I take a holistic approach to coaching, breaking the game down into four key components: technical, tactical, physical, and mental. I use progressions to simplify the fundamentals, helping players build confidence through structured learning—starting with the basics and layering in advanced strategies over time. Whether we’re working on a deadly third-shot drop, smart court positioning, or staying mentally tough in pressure moments, my goal is to help you think, move, and play like a pro.
My coaching style? High-energy, game-based, and always fun. We’ll drill with a purpose, apply strategies in live play, and focus on real results that translate to wins on the court. Off the court, I’m a dad of four, a Warriors fan, and constantly chasing big goals (pickleball and beyond). Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your game to the next level, I’m here to help you play smarter, move better, and dominate with confidence. Let’s get after it!
Nico
COACH'S BIO
Book Now
LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$135
SEMI PRIVATE
$80
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$65
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
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Dionne Lim is a highly accomplished Pro Pickler and a proud CRBN-Athlete. She brings a wealth of experience, including her time as a D1 Tennis player at the University of Nevada. As a certified coach, she holds the prestigious USPTA: P1 Elite Pro and IPTPA Certified designations, making her an exceptional and knowledgeable instructor.
Dionne
COACH'S BIO
Book Now
LESSONS PRICING
PRIVATE
$150
SEMI PRIVATE
$100
(2 People)
SMALL GROUP
$75
(3-4 People)
Hourly per player
Next Coach >
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Hailing from Blaine, Minnesota, Brent Waiwaiole is an accomplished pickleball player and well-known pickleball instructor. As the Vice President of Player Development, he helped build the North Star Pickleball Association which has provided pickleball programming and fostered pickleball growth in the Twin Cities.
Since 2018, Brent has played in numerous Sr. Pro events, is a U.S. Open champion, and Played in the inaugural season of the National Pickleball League. His most recent medal achievement came at the APP Sacramento, tournament, in March 2024, where he won Gold in the Masters division of men’s doubles.
Brent and his wife Linda recently moved to Truckee, California to be near their children and grandchildren.
