PTR/USTA High Performance Certified Coach

My name is Gary Cassera. I am a new resident of Bellingham, but not new to racquet and paddle sports. I have been a professional coach for over 25 years and still enjoy helping players of all levels and ages reach their goals. After a long career playing tennis, at age 23, I was selected to be a high performance coach with the United States Tennis Association, which was a great honor. I was responsible for guiding the early education of some of the top juniors in the nation. Geometry, physics, and fun are some of my guiding principles that help my players. I have been playing Pickleball for several years and enjoy the variety of skills it showcases from many different sports. My favorite part of teaching is helping people understand the “why” behind shot selection, court position, and many of the other hidden secrets that help people skyrocket their play. We can’t always control what happens, but we can understand why it happened.

Email: garyc@armorypickleball.net

PPR Certified Coach

My name is Dan Herndon. For a couple years now, I’ve been eager to become a pickleball coach. It combines five of my passions: coaching/teaching, pickleball, creativity, community and service. In the last 40 years I’ve played tennis, ping pong, badminton, volleyball and skied. I also have an extensive coaching background. I’ve been a ski instructor up at Ski Acres/Snoqualmie Pass, taught beginner tennis players, and helped coach a middle school volleyball team. For eleven years, I was a para-educator at an alternative school, where I taught PE and invented over 80 games/sports. Other than playing pickleball in PE with wooden paddles, I recently developed a love for this sport a little over three years ago. Refining my own skills and strategies has helped me improve. My primary focus is coaching 3.0-4.0 players in group sessions, and I’m open to coaching newer players in private lessons as well.

Email: herndondan@hotmail.com
Phone: 360-510-3443 (text or leave voicemail)

PPR Certified Coach

I’ve enjoyed some form of coaching since the early 90s, and after coaching pickleball for a couple years, it’s become my newest passion! I love to see fellow pickleballers have “epiphany moments” after learning and drilling to improve to the point where it becomes second nature. For me, the goal is that as you learn and drill, the game becomes less chaotic. Then we can enjoy the "Zen of Pickleball", where we don't need to think - just to react, take the right shots, and make the right decisions automatically. I get a true joy out of watching people smile while learning and playing the sport.

Email: courtney@armorypickleball.net
Phone: 206-755-7688

PPR Certified Coach

I'm delighted to serve my community as a certified pickleball coach. I find joy in getting to know my students and helping them grow in multiple domains. As a coach, I'm known for my personalized feedback, sense of humor, and direct communication style. I work primarily with students in the 3.0 - 3.5 range. While my coaching slots are currently full, I try to work new students in as scheduling allows.

Email: mkabcd1234@gmail.com
Phone: 360-305-0304

PPR/USAPA Certified Coach

I love to coach pickleball players of all ages, from beginner to 3.5 level! With a background in tennis and ping pong, my transition to pickleball in 2019 was an easy (and passionate) one. For me, pickleball is a way of connecting with others, having fun, and improving skills along the way. After 25 years as an attorney, I just couldn’t stay away from a court of some kind! I live in Bellingham with my wife and numerous woodland critters that visit us daily.

Email: nebbles@comcast.net
Phone: 707-696-3713

PPR Certified Coach

I really enjoy sharing my ideas with everyone and helping them improve in this addicting sport of Pickleball! I’m a retired elementary school P.E. teacher, basketball and tennis coach of 37 years. I’ve been married to my wife Cindy for 45 years, and have 3 kids and 7 grandkids! In my free time I enjoy camping, traveling to Munich to see family and driving down the Oregon Coast. I’m an avid fly fisherman, and I usually catch at least 100 steelhead each winter and countless trout at Chopaka Lake every spring. Big Seahawks, Mariners and Gonzaga fan as well.

Email: joeobrienemail@gmail.com
Phone: 360-927-6552

PCI Certified Coach

I’ve loved pickleball ever since I was a kid playing at a friend’s barn on Tuesday nights. Now, as a certified coach and director of the Armory’s youth program, I’m hoping to pass on my love of the game to kids like me, and anyone willing to learn and have fun! My passion for pickleball is evident in my coaching, and I work hard to tailor my lessons to each person. Nothing makes me happier than seeing one of my students improve skills and techniques in their game. If you or someone you know would like a lesson, please reach out. Hope to see you on the courts sometime soon!

Email: tristan@armorypickleball.net
Phone: 360-244-3196

PPR Certified Coach

Pickleball has been a transformative journey for me. In just 3 years, I’ve progressed from a complete beginner to a competitive 4.5+ player, driven by a passion for observing, thinking, learning and persistent practice. This personal growth guides my coaching philosophy. Understanding the unique learning paths of students, I aim to share my experience to help students master skills and enjoy the game to the fullest, from honing skills through purposeful drills to applying them strategically in games. In addition to my playing background, I hold both coach and referee certifications, bringing a comprehensive understanding of the game to the court. Join me for an enriching pickleball journey focused on skill development and a love for the sport.

Email: rhondawei@gmail.com