These coaches teach at top ranked spots and have great lesson fulfillment & student reviews.


As a former Division 1 athlete with two decades of experience, I bring a unique blend of high-level skill and passionate instruction to the court. My coaching style emphasizes building a strong technical foundation while fostering a love for the game in a fun and supportive environment. Let's work together to elevate your game and unlock your full potential on the court!
"To Whom It May Concern, My name is Ariel Ricasata, a parent and a 26-year Veteran of the United States Navy. I am writing this letter for the purpose of making a personal recommendation for Mr. Jose Arreola, whom I have known as a tennis player and a tennis coach for over four years. Particularly, he coached the boys' and girls' tennis team for Port Hueneme high school. After thoughtful considerations about his technical proficiencies in tennis along with his notable credentials with his tennis coaching job at the high school, I asked him to privately coach my two young children to further develop their tennis skills. I did this because I saw the necessary skill sets in him not only to coach tennis but his interpersonal skills. It is my strong belief that anyone seeking these valuable skills will strongly benefit from what Mr. Arreola has to offer. For almost three decades of my military career, 1 have developed a keen ability in evaluating people's character by their capacity to communicate and how they carry themselves. Mr. Arreola displays those vital elements. I find him passionate as a tennis coach and a mentor to children seeking guidance not only in sports but in life. As a tennis counselor, he knows how to listen and provide effective plans to achieve positive results. I am especially impressed with Mr. Arreola's ability to evaluate and actively attend to the needs of his players and tennis clients. He is naturally resourceful in creating training processes and is a problem solver in matters pertaining to training progression. He has instinctive abilities to harness the mental and physical strengths of students and use those to continue to improve people by providing clear, timely, and achievable results. Consequently, both my children excelled highly in the field of athletics (not only in tennis) but more importantly, my children truly enjoyed the demanding training journey with Mr. Arreola. Based on my experience and personal accounts of his overall expertise that produced outstanding results for my children in a highly demanding athletic program, it is my complete satisfaction to provide the highest endorsement for Mr. Jose Arreola for positions that require judicious guidance, productive training, constructive counseling, high-level coaching, comprehensive evaluating, and top-notch mentoring. I have no doubt that he will uphold any charges given to him and highly excel expectations. Since Dione


With over 35 years of coaching experience and a lifelong passion for racquet sports, Dimitar Yazadzhiev has dedicated his career to helping athletes unlock their full potential. His journey includes a decade of coaching at the world-renowned Weil Tennis Academy and more than 16 years leading his own academy in Santa Barbara, working with players of all ages and levels — from beginners discovering the game to elite professionals competing on the world stage. Throughout his career, Dimitar has coached and trained Top 50 ATP and WTA players, including Grigor Dimitrov, Ana Tatishvili, Rebecca Marino, Sesil Karatancheva, and Ksenia Milevskaya, helping them refine their game and reach peak performance. He has also represented Bulgaria as a National Player in the 50+ division, competing twice at the European Pickleball Championships in England and Italy — demonstrating his passion and skill in both tennis and pickleball. What sets Dimitar apart is his unique blend of elite coaching and over 25 years in the luxury hospitality industry, having worked with prestigious resorts such as the Ojai Valley Inn and the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. This combination allows him to deliver not only world-class instruction but also a five-star, service-driven experience where every player feels valued and inspired. At Dimitar Tennis & Pickleball, he focuses on private instruction and customized training programs, blending technical precision, strategy, fitness, and mental focus — all delivered with warmth, professionalism, and personal attention. Mission: To help players of all ages and skill levels train smarter, compete stronger, and enjoy the game more fully — in an atmosphere that feels both welcoming and world-class.
""I have been practicing at Dimitar Tennis Academy from day one, and I am proud to say that I have made the right decision staying there. Dimitar is a very experienced coach who gives each player lots of personal attention, and also pushes them to utilize every second they spend on the court. Dimitar Tennis Academy offers a perfect combination of mental and physical training that prepares a player well for an upcoming tournament. It is also a place where any level of player can practice and rapidly improve. Over my years at DTA, I have felt my game solidify and consistently improve. Also, I have seen many others around me improve at a rate I didn’t think was possible. A great thing about the courts at Hilton Beachfront Resort is that they are a few hundred feet away from the beach. Their location really gives each player a more enjoyable time out on the court. On top of my game improving from training with Dimitar, practicing at DTA has also made me a better person. I believe that anybody who decides to train at Dimitar Tennis Academy will experience the best tennis program in Santa Barbara and will also become a better individual." (Peter Jivkov)