OUR STORY.
Community. Friendship. Skill. Competition. Sportsmanship. Camaraderie. Inspiration.
It all combines to form the dedicated mission of the Coachella Valley Scorpions, the expansion team of the National Pickleball League (NPL), competing (as one of 12 franchises during the 2024 season). The team is helping to promote the exciting sport of pickleball within their desert communities of the Coachella Valley.
Co-owners Kim Jagd, General Manager and star player, and Rob Zwemmer, an award-winning real estate agent, realized their vision of assembling a pro pickleball team, for national-level NPL competition. The Coachella Valley Scorpions will carry out their goal of engaging the community and raising awareness of this fast-growing and popular recreational sport as they set out to bring home big wins during the 2024 events schedule.
Kim and Rob secured a Coachella Valley exclusivity contract for the Coachella Valley Scorpions team, the only pickelball league in the State for Champion Pros aged 50+. The local sports scene is energized by this new team that all pickleball enthusiasts can follow, support, and be inspired by as they participate in play of their own. Seniors find a new leisure-time way to stay fit, healthy and social. Kids have a go-to place after school to further their physical fitness needs, experience the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship, and forge rewarding friendships. Pickleball promotes physical activity, strategic thinking, sportsmanship, skill and accomplishment, as well as social connection.
The Coachella Valley Scorpions encourage all age groups to share in the pursuit of health and enjoyment through the vibrant and emerging sport of pickleball.
OUR MISSION.
Building a pickleball community as the Coachella Valley Scorpions; a locally focused expansion team competing nationally within the National Pickleball League (NPL).
Further our commitment in elevating passion for the sport across generations in the Coachella Valley community: uniting youth, families, and seniors through spirited play, fostering camaraderie, and hosting camps, clinics and special events including a 2025 NPL competition.
Establish a location with indoor/outdoor courts for organized after school pickleball games, develop a junior team (Coachella Valley Junior Scorpions), and competitions with peer teams across the country. Outreach to the school systems generating awareness of the local pickleball activities available in their community.
Dedication to promoting sportsmanship, skill development, interpersonal relationship building, and a vibrant pickleball community enjoyed by all age groups for years to come.
OWNER/PLAYER/GM
KIM JAGD
Kim was a multi-sport standout athlete at Palos Verdes High School prior to attending UCLA and won a NCAA Championship in volleyball in 1984. After graduating, she played three seasons on the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and then coached at UCLA for 18 seasons, as well as for two seasons at Colorado University. After retiring in 2010, Kim fell in love with golf and quickly found success, winning several club championships.
In 2013, Kim discovered and began to excel in pickleball and became a “pro“ in 2014. For the past 10 years, Kim has excelled in tournaments, earning numerous accolades, including medals in all of the majors in the Senior Pro division. A PPR certified teacher, Kim has also dedicated time to “growing the game” by campaigning to bring USA Nationals to Indian Wells, chairing the APP Sr. Pro & Champions Councils and sitting on the PPA Sr. Pro Advisory Council. She currently advises the NPL and sits on the PHOF Selection committee as well as being the Vice President of the Board.
Kim still enjoys competing at the highest level and won a Pro Split Age WD medal with Megan Fudge at the last USA Pickleball Nationals in Indian Wells in 2022 and her NPL team, The Indy Drivers won the Inaugural 2023 Championship.
OWNER/CEO/CFO
ROB ZWEMMER
Rob has garnered the status as one of the nation’s consistent top real estate leaders, attributed to his high level of customer service, sales and negotiation skills, creative and visionary ideas and marketing savvy. Before joining the real estate market in California, Rob toured the world while in upper management with Cirque du Soleil.
A widely respected member of the California real estate industry since 2004, he has more than 1,000 successful sales and holds several national Luxury Home Specialist designations. He sponsors fundraising endeavors and received the prestigious Brinton Child Advocacy Award in 2013 for his commitment and support of at-risk children in the community.
OWNER
RUTH ANN POPPA
Ruth Ann is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother and loves to spend time with her family. Ruth Ann enjoys all forms of entertainment including: sports, theater, ballet, movies, puzzles and audiobooks. She is always up to travel and excels at Bridge as Ruth Ann is a Lifetime Master.
OWNER/STRATEGIST
DON ZUKER
Don was born in California but spent his formative years in Washington State and played collegiate and semi-professional baseball. When his baseball career ended, Don began coaching at the high school level. Don holds a Bachelor's in Business Finance from Dallas Baptist University. He began his finance career over 20 years ago as a commodities futures broker which progressed into futures trading. Don is the CEO of Zuker51 Holdings, LLC., which focuses on investments. When Don is not working, he enjoys playing tennis, pickleball and coaching pickleball. Don holds both PPR and IPTPA certifications.
VICE PRESIDENT OF SPONSORSHIPS
ROD DAVIS
Rod Davis is an accomplished sports and entertainment marketing executive with extensive experience in sponsorship, marketing, media, and events.
Davis currently runs his own consulting practice helping brands with corporate strategy, brand building, and revenue generation. He has worked with the likes of Sony, Visa, Dow, Old Dominion, Trek Bikes, the NCAA, Notre Dame, Dow, the Critics’ Choice Awards, USA Football, USA Track & Field, the Center For Performing Arts, and Dale Earnhardt Racing among others.
From late 2015 through 2018, he served as the Chief Revenue Officer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR, where he was a member of the Executive Leadership Team while leading the Sales, Servicing, and Licensing areas. During his three seasons there, he sold the first presenting sponsorship of the Indianapolis 500, secured a new title sponsor for the Brickyard 400, helped create a new music festival, brought on new partners like CDW, Speedway, Advance Auto Parts, and GEICO, while also extending partnerships with Chevrolet, Honda, TAG Heuer, and Firestone.
Previously, Davis also served as the Chief Marketing Officer at USA Swimming, Sr. Vice President of Marketing at USA Gymnastics, President and Tournament Director of the RCA Tennis Championships, and Vice President of Marketing for the Indiana Sports Corporation.
Rod graduated from Ball State University where he was also a member of thefootball team.
TEAM MANAGER & ASSISTANT COACH
RYAN WILLIS
Ryan is a seasoned professional with a passion for transforming athletic programs and cultivating excellence in sports management. With over 16 years of experience at the collegiate level, he is a dynamic and goal-oriented individual dedicated to strategic coaching, talent identification, and high-performance team development. A native of Tulsa, Okla., Ryan has worked in various capacities throughout his career. As a collegiate volleyball coach, he has held positions at UCLA, the University of Alabama, and most recently served as the head coach at his alma mater, The University of Tulsa, for nine seasons.
Currently, Ryan is transitioning to his newfound passion for pickleball. What began as a fun way to stay active has evolved into a new career. Ryan is a PPR Certified coach and currently serves as the Pickleball GM and Lead Coach at Life Time in Tulsa. In addition to his expertise in sports, Ryan is a certified DISC Personality Analyst. He collaborates with Coaching Clout, a consulting company, to develop Pickleball workshops focusing on individual and team synergy for success.
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
ANDY BANACHOWSKI
Originally from San Mateo, Andy was an All-American and National Championship men’s volleyball player at UCLA. He concluded his 43-year tenure as the winningest women’s volleyball coach with 1,106 wins. Banachowski's awards, recognitions, and accomplishments are many.
He was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1988, 1989, 1993, and 1994. Andy has been named to seven different Halls of Fame for his illustrious career coaching volleyball. Besides co-founding the American Volleyball Coaches Association, Banachowski has been part of every aspect of the U.S. Olympic volleyball program. From administration, coaching, scouting and instructing, Banachowski has traveled the globe for volleyball. He has had 22 U.S. National Team members and 13 U.S. Olympians while 25 Bruins have competed in sand beach volleyball.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
DANIELLE LEHMAN
Danielle is a marketing professional with over 18 years of experience in the sports and startup industries. Her journey began with a decade of experience working both agency and client-side, followed by a senior product and marketing role for a tech incubator and venture capital firm. In 2013, Danielle launched her own consulting firm, where she has since worked with professional sports teams including the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Bears. She also has extensive experience in the pickleball world, working with multiple paddle companies, pickleball facilities, and professional pickleball teams.
Danielle has a Bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she can be found on the pickleball courts, coaching her son's baseball team, or traveling with her husband and son to visit MLB stadiums across America.
WEBSITE & DIGITAL ADVISOR
DALEY MEISTRELL
From Southern California, Daley Meistrell has been a sports enthusiast his entire life. He attended Santa Clara University where he played Water Polo and broke the assist record for both single season and career. He also received his bachelors degree in Business Marketing.
Over the last ten years, Daley has helped brands scale their Direct to Consumer channels for top companies like Body Glove & Liquid I.V. He is excited to focus his skills to support the growth of Pickleball and the Coachella Valley Scorpions.
MULTI MEDIA SERVICES
STEVE TAYLOR
Steve Taylor is Senior Creative Director at Digital Spatula. A boutique media and interactive production company in the Los Angeles area. Steve founded Digital Spatula in 1992 as a vehicle to create media for a large variety of organizations and clients. Steve and his team at Digital Spatula have provided full media production services for some of thee largest companies and organizations in the US and abroad including Honda/Acura, UPS, M&M Mars, Harper Collins, CNN, Adobe, ESPN, Fox Television, and Showtime just to name a few.
In 1994, Steve was pulled into pickleball and hasn’t looked back. Digital Spatula has provided multimedia services for most of the large companies and organizations in the sport over the last 10 years. Steve was the official photographer for Nationals and the US Open multiple years as well as shooting stills and producing video for major US media outlets like Sports Illustrated, ESPN, FOX, CBS, USA Today, CNN and many others. In the last couple of years Steve as helped bring pickleball to Tennis Channel, who have committed massive resources to develop a 24/7 exclusive pickleball channel. In addition, Steve serves as producer for all the pre-produced and live on-air broadcast graphics for Tennis Channel and other networks.
