Private Pickleball Lessons & Coaches in Portage Park, IL

Tennis and Pickleball Aficionado, Sharing the Love of Racquet Sports for Over 20 Years. Former University of Illinois Club Tennis Team Member. Passionate Teacher with a Decade of Experience. Advocate for Active Lifestyles and Sharing the Joy of the Game with Everyone!

Expert Squash & Pickleball Instruction ​With over 16 years of experience in professional squash and 4 years as a certified pickleball instructor, I provide high-performance training tailored to every level of play. Whether you are a junior picking up a racket for the first time or an adult looking to refine your competitive edge, my coaching focuses on technical precision, strategic movement, and game-day mental toughness.

"I have been working with the FXW School for the past two years to introduce and develop pickleball for their junior players. We consistently see a fantastic turnout, with up to 20 kids participating per session. While the students generally start as beginners, many are incredibly fast learners. We focus on blending skill-building with fun games, and after just a few sessions each term, the players successfully transition into competitive match play. It continues to be a highly successful program, and I look forward to getting them back on the court for the next session.

History of tennis, racquetball, and pickleball. Aggie flight attendant.

Igniting passion and skill on the court is my specialty. As a solid tennis and pickleball player, I taught highly regarded skills clinics in the local community. Most of my players experience rapid progress on the court and leave the clinic with much more confidence and enthusiasm for the game. I offer tailored instruction to elevate your game, making learning fun and effective. Let's achieve your goals together! I’m passionate about the sport and would like to help as many people learn and improve as possible. If you need a lesson outside of Wilmette in the north shore area, please send me a request. I’ll see what I can do. All my sessions will be tailored specifically to individual players. Here’s an overview of what we will do based on your levels: For Beginners: Building the Foundation The goal is to get you up and running so you can truly enjoy your new sport. I will focus on laying a solid technical foundation and teaching you the key strategies needed to start playing matches. By understanding the "how" and the "why" early on, you will see consistent, rewarding progress over time. For Intermediate Players: Breaking the Bottleneck I will identify exactly what is holding you back—the specific moments where you feel uncomfortable or lose points repeatedly. We’ll use purposeful, engaging drills to turn those weaknesses into strengths. Often, refining just one specific shot can transform your entire game. From there, we will progress into advanced shot selection and point construction. For Advanced Players: Mastering the Margins At this level, it’s about fine-tuning your unique style. I will analyze your game to sharpen your anticipation, balance, and footwork. Our sessions focus on high-level decision-making, precise targeting, and superior ball control. Finally, we’ll integrate the "secret sauce" of the competitive game: mental toughness and peak physical fitness.

"I’m an advanced tennis player. Playing pickleball is easy but also humbling as I level up when patience and strategy become critical. Wen helped me understand the key difference between the two sports and develop skills and intuition to play competitively in pickleball.

I'm a Chicago-based pickleball coach at Big City Pickle and KB Fitness Solutions — and I love helping players of all levels master their game. My sessions are high-energy, personalized, and actually fun. We'll work on your serve, dinks, footwork, and court awareness through real drills and game situations. Come ready to laugh, learn, and level up your game!

"We all love Coach Nick!!!

My deep background in tennis and racket sports gives me a technical edge most pickleball coaches simply don’t have. I understand spin, footwork, and court geometry at a level that translates directly. Add I entrepreneurial drive and hands-on coaching ambition, and I bring both the skill set and the passion to genuinely develop players.

"I’ve been competing at the 4.5 level for two years and hit a wall. My coach completely rebuilt my reset mechanics, tightened my erne execution, and gave me a clear game plan for tournament play. Within two months I won my first gold medal at a regional event. This coaching is the real deal.

Teaching coaching Racquet sports for over two decades. Competed in and medaled in dozens of high-level PPA, APP, USA, and Mlp as well as set up multiple events in Pickleball. I currently run a Country Club Picklball program and have a next generation or junior Pickleball camp and adult camps in programs. I also set up inter club matches as well as social events bachelor parties kids to adult birthday parties in corporate events. I’m also a certified Yoga fitness instructor.