YMCA Arlington Tennis & Pickleball Center Pickleball Coach Bios

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TJ Thomas

A versatile and well-rounded athlete, TJ has always immersed himself in numerous sports, from basketball, to ultimate frisbee, yoga, snowboarding, powerlifting, and pickleball, bringing his dedication, attention to detail and positive attitude to each sport. Since his introduction to pickleball in 2023, he has spent thousands of hours playing, drilling, watching, studying, and teaching the game. TJ has traveled up and down the East Coast, competing in dozens of tournaments earning multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in advanced singles and advanced doubles divisions. His ultimate goal is to grow the sport, and to share the skills and knowledge he has learned over the years with those who are new to the sport or those seeking to improve their game.

Paul “Pickles” Smith

Meet “Pickles” Paul Smith, a distinguished Arlington, VA native and PPR Certified Pickleball Instructor with over 30 years of coaching excellence in tennis. Having gracefully transitioned his passion from tennis to pickleball, Paul stands as a beacon of skill and sportsmanship. His recent triumph over world #2 pickleball pro Anna Bright at the A.I.P. Pros vs 5.0s event attests to his mastery of the court. With a commitment to precision and a wealth of instructional experience, Paul brings a unique blend of professionalism and passion to his pickleball coaching, ensuring players not only refine their skills but also savor the joy of the game.

Craig Zdaniewicz

Craig’s athletic journey began in high school, where he stood out in baseball, football, and wrestling before playing for the All-Army volleyball team in 2016–2017 after attending West Point. After his honorable discharge in 2018, he shifted to coaching volleyball at South Lakes and Wakefield High Schools.In 2021, Craig reignited his passion for pickleball while volunteering at a YMCA event with Ben and Collin Johns. Since then, he has advanced from a 3.5 to 4.5 level player, highlighted by a third-place finish in a 4.0–4.5 APA singles event in October 2024. Dedicated to growing the sport, Craig coaches, runs clinics, supports programs like PTY, and helped donate a pickleball machine to the YMCA. He’s also working to bring pickleball into local schools through mixers and outreach.

George Dwyer

George  is a certified teaching pro by the Professional Pickleball Registry. He has taught hundreds of students through Introductory, Intermediate, and Individual instruction sessions and clinics.  He has been teaching for several years for the Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities in the City of Alexandria, Virginia and most recently for FirstServe Tennis and at the YMCA.  Dr. Dwyer is a contributing editor at Pickleball Magazine, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Jimmy and Rosslyn Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.