Best 19 coaches for lessons near Santa Barbara, CA

Dylan is a dedicated coach focused on building excellence through discipline, consistency, and mindset. He develops both skill and character, blending strong fundamentals with motivation and accountability. Committed to growth, he helps athletes build confidence, sharpen performance, and develop habits that create lasting success on and off the court.

"Dylan was extremely helpful and super kind. Turned me into a beast on the court

Coach Scholz is very experienced adult Pickleball player and coach. A 4.5 player who loves coaching and teaching! In addition to an extensive tennis background, Coach has over 50 years coaching/teaching experience. Primarily basketball but all sports, all ages and in the classroom. Exclusively pickleball since 2017. Coach played Division One College Basketball for NCAA Tournament Teams, Coached NCAA Division One Basketball and coached as an assistant in the NBA. His Florida Southern Teams from 1982-1990 were recognized as “day in and day out the best college basketball program in the state of Florida!” Florida Southern made 7 trips to the NCAA Tournament in 8 years, with 3 trips to the Elite 8 and two Final Four Appearances! He was 4 times Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year, 4 times Florida Coaches Association Florida Coach of the Year, 3 Times South Region Coach of the Year and a 4 Time Finalist for National Coach of the Year! Coach has transferred all that knowledge and experience to pickleball and pickleball has become his and his family’s favorite sport ever! George’s wife, Lynne, is a former number 1 College Tennis Player and has become an accomplished pickleball player in her own right. George plays pickleball, coaches/teaches pickleball, studies pickleball 24/7 ... including his own lessons from a number of the Top PROS ... and rests up for more pickleball the next day! He and his wife, Lynne pride themselves on being Life Long Learners! Coach would love to work with you at your pleasure and convenience! “I truly love this great opportunity to coach again and love to help people get better! There are so many intricacies to this great game ... I feel many more intricacies than basketball and tennis.”

"“George has a passion for helping others get better! He brings attention to little things that will improve your game and focus your attention on technique, court awareness and strategic discipline!”

Pickleball isn't just a sport; it's a passion I love sharing with others. My coaching focuses on building solid fundamentals and a love for the game. Let's elevate your pickleball journey!

"Working with Andrew started helping me improve in a short time period. With his strategies at the net, I started bringing more offensive plays to my game.

I love helping people with the basics in the fundamentals. Everyone wants to get better at Pickleball and they wanna play but they need help with the foundation of the basics. That’s where I come in.

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)

Ride the waves of progress with me! As an amateur surfer and instructor for 5 years, I blend technical expertise with a supportive teaching style. Let's unlock your surfing potential together!

I fell in love with pickleball in 2023, and it quickly became my healthy obsession. The game helped me shed over 100 pounds, sharpen my skills through lessons, and inspired me to pursue PCI Certification. Now, I share that passion by teaching beginners and intermediates of all ages—helping them learn the rules, build confidence, and discover just how addictive and fun pickleball can be.

"Diagnosed and helped me fix my movement issues.