Private Lessons & Coaches in Saratoga, CA

Daniel Watson Carnegie is a dedicated basketball coach, mentor, and current college basketball player with a passion for player development and leadership. A product of nationally ranked high school programs including Wasatch Academy, Real Salt Lake Academy, Utah Prep, and The Skill Factory (TSF), Daniel brings elite-level experience and a team-first mentality to every environment he enters. Daniel is currently continuing his academic and athletic journey as a college basketball player at De Anza College, where he contributes both on the court and as a role model for his teammates. His coaching experience includes serving as an Assistant Coach for Do It Better Basketball AAU teams under Jon Mercado, where he helped structure practices, develop player skills, and support tournament strategy. He has also mentored young athletes as a Camp Coach at Empower Me Academy under Jerome Gumbs, and as a Camp Counselor at Wasatch Academy, where he developed his leadership and communication abilities in a structured residential setting. Beyond basketball, Daniel has held multiple leadership roles, including Student Council President and board member of the African American Consulate during his time at Wasatch Academy. He has consistently maintained strong academic performance and believes in developing well-rounded athletes through discipline, focus, and mentorship. Daniel is committed to using his experience as both a player and coach to inspire the next generation of athletes and build strong, character-driven teams.

"Coach Dan is a great coach he helped me with my shooting form & death perception, and help build my basketball iq and over all game, he also helped me get into a national ranked prep school. Called Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, I’m excited for his summer sessions & his upcoming basketball season!

Hey everyone, I’m Jon! I’m a 5.0 level player and professional coach that has 3+ years of teaching experience at The Hub Alameda and locally. I’m looking to bring my expertise to help local players improve their game! As someone who worked their way up to 5.0 from the intermediate level, I am intimately familiar with all the pitfalls along the way from beginner to advanced levels and what it takes to grind to that level. My teaching philosophy has always been rooted in approaching the game as simply as possible. I emphasize simple, repeatable shot mechanics. And equally important, I take the time to explain how shot selection and strategy impact your progress just as much as shot execution! I’m 100% confident that in just a single, one hour session we can make noticeable improvement in either shot quality or a shift in strategic thinking. You can always expect each session to be tailored to your specific needs. Pacing will always be adjusted to your progress. At the end of each session I’ll send you notes for the key points we covered as well as actionable feedback. Looking forward to working together to help you improve your game to the next level! Happy to answer any questions.

"Jon was my first pickleball coach for a good part of one year. My simple goal was to strive to improve my shot skills to unlock my potential through self-awareness. Jon truly enhanced my development as a pickleball player by focusing on the fundamentals. Jon organized coaching lessons focused on repetitive drills, drills and more drills – starting with dinks, drops, resets, punch volleys, flick volleys, speed ups, deep serves, footwork, positioning, placement and court awareness. Jon’s clear explanations and demonstrations was key to learning. Jon kept me motivated, inspired and encouraged. Jon quickly adapted to my learning style with good and calm talk that effectively helped me during drills to reinforce correct form & habit. Jon observed early on that I was reaching & hitting off-balanced more than I should; afterwards I became more conscious & deliberate about moving my feet to avoid stretching. I learned about my habits that influenced the changes that made me more confident. My sessions with Jon became an enjoyable journey of self-discovery which exceeded my goal.

Hello all, my name is Riley Harwell. I’m a recent graduate of Louisiana State University (LSU) with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. I was a four-year starter for LSU’s Club Baseball Team, where I helped lead the team to two NCBA World Series appearances in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, I was honored as the MVP of the NCBA Wood Wars Tournament in West Monroe, Lousiana. Before college, I spent over 15 years competing in North Georgia for various teams in East Cobb and the surrounding areas, gaining valuable experience and developing a strong foundation in the game through consistent, high-level competition. I have a lifelong passion for both development and competition, and I’m always eager to share my knowledge of the game with anyone willing to learn. I anticipate providing lessons in hitting, playing the catcher position, or general Infield/outfield glove work and mechanics.

I’ve had a passion for competitive golf from an early age, with achievements like winning the Peninsula Country Club Junior Championship in 1999 and holding records at Burlingame Country Club and Harding Park. I was ranked as the No. 1 player on a team with two future U.S. Open competitors and played for the UC Davis golf team in 2001 and 2002. I've trained with over 10 PGA professionals and attended the prestigious Jim McLean National Junior Summer Academy. With over three years of teaching junior golf, I love working with beginners and young players, while also running my own business, FORE Golf Towels.

Fueling potential on the gridiron is my passion. With 9 years of experience playing high level football and 3 years coaching it, I blend strategic insight with a supportive approach, developing both skill and sportsmanship. I’m looking to evolve the new generations game with skill and intelligence.

Hey there! I'm Akash and I've been playing and teaching Pickleball for over 5 years now. I'm not only an experienced instructor, but also a 4.5 rated player. I love working with players of all levels, whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your skills! I have been giving lesson to all kinds of players and am deeply committed to seeing that people have fun and fall in love with the game of Pickleball. My Coach - Tanner Tomassi What Can Pickleball Teach You about life? (See link below) https://teachme.to/blog/pickleball/what-will-pickleball-teach-you-about-life

"Akash was great! We had so much fun and loved learning from him.

I’ve been a professional basketball trainer since 2010. I’ve worked with athletes of all skill levels. Players have gone onto play at the NCAA, G-League, and in professional leagues domestically and overseas. I have my own indoor training facility in San Jose where I conduct my training sessions.

""Coach Zach has been terrific for my daughter. He is very patient and calm, and works at the pace that my daughter wants to keep. He is always very encouraging in practice, making sure that he focuses on the positives. My daughter has had a big improvement in confidence and skills since she started working with Zach. I rate him very highly as a coach."