Above: the Rochester Rocket in action
I never realized this until I looked back at how I got into coaching racquetball. Upon reflection, I started at the bottom but very quickly got to the top! My first pro was Mike Levine and he is the one responsible for my coaching career. My first female pro was Fran Davis, yep, the Fran Davis. Another story for another time!
Mike was in 6th grade when he begged me to play him. He loved racquetball and ended up in my English class too. We would do homework and practice during his middle school years! By age 15 he was in a quarterfinal of a pro stop. I had to learn the game fast or get help coaching him. I chose to learn the game fast and steal any and every item of info I could. Dave Peck, and Jerry Hilecher were my two main sources of info although Mike and I did a ton of video study (with a five foot high deck of video reel to reel machine) and learned the drive serve together.
Mike and I still stay in touch and it is always a long phone call when we talk!
All of my athletes can drive serve, thanks to Mike Levine, the Rochester Rocket! I heard through the grapevine he has begun pickleball! Would love to see him at a tournament!