About Sam
Sports coach, community builder, and entrepreneur in Montgomery County, MD. Helping families and kids develop a growth mindset through competitive play.
A Chinese-born, US-adopted former Physical Educator turned pickleball programming leader. Sam grew up in Takoma Park, MD, played varsity baseball and soccer at Montgomery Blair, and earned a Master's in Coaching from Ball State University. After nine years teaching PE across five schools, he discovered pickleball in 2019 and never looked back — building businesses, programs, and a community around the sport he loves.
The Journey
Hong Kong to Takoma Park
Adopted from Hong Kong at 1.5 years old, grew up in Takoma Park, MD.
Montgomery Blair HS
Varsity baseball and soccer. Class of 2006.
McDaniel College
B.S. Exercise Science with minor in Education.
Ball State University
M.S. Coaching with Physical Education specialization.
Physical Educator
9 years as a PE teacher across five schools: Saint Bernadette, Montgomery Blair HS, The Potomac School, Brooke Lee MS, Weller Road Elementary.
Discovered Pickleball
Introduced by adult softball teammates. Went deep during the pandemic.
Pickleball Climb 5.0
First pickleball business — organized competitive play for 3.5+ players.
Dill Dinkers
Joined as Assistant Manager at Rockville. Promoted to Director of Programming at North Bethesda before training was even complete. Now leads both locations.
Building the Future
Co-founder of Next Gen Pickleball Academy (with Amine Lahlou) and Link & Dink community app. Father of Kobe and Owen. Husband to Kelly. Living in Olney, MD.
Mixed Gender Gold at the Legends Tournament, defeating future pro Alix Truong and John Truong in the Open Division final.
Coaching Philosophy
“Pickleball is more than a sport — it's a way to help kids and families grow stronger together. Drawing from my background in physical education, I create sessions that are safe, structured, and fun, while always emphasizing EASE values. Every drill has purpose, every milestone is celebrated, and every lesson is designed to build confidence on the court and resilience in life.”