Instructors

Vicki Foster has been playing pickleball regularly for over 13 years, after building a court at her home. Since she started playing, Vicki has achieved major tournament wins, including two USAPA National Championships women’s 5.0 open gold medals, one USAPA National Championships 5.0 age gold medal, one Canadian National Championships women’s 5.0 open gold medal, and a finalist in the 2019 US Open women’s 5.0 age doubles.

Starting as a tennis pro, it was a natural addition for Vicki to also start teaching pickleball. She has been teaching pickleball for over 12 years. Currently, she is teaching private and group lessons on public and private courts, and is a recurring guest pro at Scottsdale’s Victorium, where she offers three-hour pickleball boot camps. Vicki has recently been appointed as of one PPR’s 13 lead clinicians, traveling the country to offer PPR’s on-court testing certification clinic for new teaching professionals

Vicki is currently a PPR Certified Professional and PPR Lead Clinician. She currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ.

Daniel (DJ) Howard comes from a tennis background, playing four years of college tennis. He started playing pickleball over five years ago. While doing well in local and regional tournaments, DJ has resolved to get into top physical condition and work on his pickleball game to gain better results at top national events. He has won four medals at the US Open.

As a former lead instructor for LevelUP Pickleball Camps, he continuously strives to be the best coach possible and cares for each individual equally. His pickleball experience, knowledge of the game, passion for people and love of teaching are evident in all his lessons and camps. DJ has multiple years teaching sports, including teaching tennis for 20 years. He currently has five years of experience teaching pickleball and has taught all levels from beginner to pro.

DJ is currently a member of PCI, Pickleball Coaching International. He currently resides in East Lansing, MI.

Justin Umbs has been playing pickleball for four years. Having a degree in health and physical education, he realized early on the benefits of pickleball. Before going  full-time into pickleball, he worked at his local YMCA for 3 years as the Youth and Family Director and 3 years as the Branch Executive Director. He has won men’s gold at the Wing City Open, and mixed and men’s golds at the Mid-Atlantic Open. Justin’s favorite accomplishment is opening and operating Steel City Pickleball.

Justin coached various high school soccer and tennis teams for over 7 years. Interestingly enough, he has been teaching pickleball for five years, which is longer than he has been playing. Since 2019, he has gone full-time into pickleball, teaching private and group lessons at his own facility.

Justin has a IPTPA Level 2 Certification. He currently resides in New Castle, PA.

Chuck Vietmeier has been playing pickleball for four years. He has won medals at every level, including a US Open gold medal. Chuck is the Director of Product Marketing at GAMMA Sports and has been with the company for over 20 years.

Coming from a tennis background, playing four years in college and teaching tennis for over 30 years, Chuck felt that the growth in popularity of pickleball made the crossover a natural choice. He has been teaching pickleball for the last two years.

Chuck is a PPR Certified instructor. He currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA.