Doug Abell’s athletic and sports teaching background is in gymnastics and he started playing Pickleball in 2016. He first met Mindy at a Pickleball camp in September, 2018. They got married on the pickleball court at that same camp in September 2023. When he is not at his full time job at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lexington, KY, Doug is a 4.5/5.0 tournament player and travels with Mindy to teach. He enjoys watching people smile and laugh while helping them reach their pickleball goals.
Deb Harrison
Deb is a Certified PPR/IPTPA coach with 24 years of coaching and playing experience. She is a gold medalist at prestigious tournaments, including the US Open, Nationals, State, Regionals, and Huntsman World, in both table tennis and pickleball over two decades. In 2018, she was honored as the Florida State Senior Games Athlete of the Decade and was also nominated for the Pickleball Hall of Fame. With over 200 videos available under her “PicklePongDebYouTube” channel, Deb shares her expertise with the community. As a traveling clinician, she has taught in various locations, including California, Illinois, Texas, Vermont, North Carolina, Georgia, Utah, Michigan, Delaware, Maine, all parts of Florida, and even aboard Royal Caribbean cruises. Deb’s mantra is, “It is more about the whack than the yack.”
Bob & Elizabeth Higginbottom
Bob and Elizabeth Higginbottom are the Head Pros and Department Heads at Beech Mountain Country Club in Beech Mountain, NC.
They began running the BMC Pickleball Center the year it opened in 2015.
Under their guidance, the Center operates a full calendar of daily and weekly pickleball activities, private lessons, and hosts numerous events throughout the season, such as mixers, festivals and tournaments.
Bob and Elizabeth began playing pickleball in 2007, traveling around the country in their RV to feed their addiction. Each has attained a USAPA legacy tournament rating of 4.5 through medals won at various tournaments throughout the country. They began teaching 13 years ago. Bob is a level 1 and level 2 IPTPA-certified teaching professional as well as a Certified Ratings Specialist. Elizabeth has served on the board of the Pickleball Hall of Fame as well as chairing the PHOF Nominating Committee. She has run numerous large tournaments, including the inaugural PHOFC in Dripping Springs, TX.
