Our Coaches
Guiding you with proven strategies, personalized training, and motivation to help you achieve your best.
Meet With Professional Coaches
Meet with a professional coach who is dedicated to honing your pickleball skills. Our coach brings expertise, personalized guidance, and a passion for the game to ensure you reach your full potential on the court.
JAMES SMITH
Instructor
James Smith is a certified instructor through the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) in conjunction with USA Pickleball. He has nine years of Pickleball playing experience and has won several gold and silver medals in various tournaments. He has worked with the towns of Canton, Glastonbury and Newington providing both beginner and intermediate group lessons as well as clinics and individual sessions. Jim’s approach combines the technical and tactical aspects of the game to increase the student’s level of intent, consistency and control. He’s looking forward to meeting many new players at The Pickleball Place.
RIley Giordano
Instructor
Riley Giordano, is a local PPR professional certified instructor who has experience teaching others the game of Pickleball at indoor facilities, area Park and Recreation programs as well as teaching private lessons. His love for Pickleball has evolved over the years starting as a hobby then becoming his passion and career. He enjoys helping folks learn the game, develop new skills, and feel good about playing socially and competitively. In his spare time, Riley competes in doubles tournaments which he has found great success.
Pickleball
Instructor
Michael Bantle is a PPR Certified coach with 8 years of experience in recreational and tournament level competition. In 2022, he attained a Certified Coach status from the Professional Pickleball Registry. He taught private lessons for the past 2 years. He earned a BS degree in Physical Fitness, a MS degree in Physical Education, and an MS degree in Exercise Science all from Central Connecticut State University. He was a public-school health and physical educator at the elementary and secondary levels for 28 years. In addition, his coaching career spans 37 years and encompasses the sport of soccer, gymnastics, track and field, and baseball at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Presently, he is an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance.