Collegiate Pickleball Powered by JOOLA
College pickleball is no longer a niche corner of the sport; it’s one of its fastest-growing and most promising frontiers. With hundreds of schools involved, three major collegiate tours (DUPR College Pickleball Tour, NCPA Tour, APP College Tour), and events streaming nearly every weekend, the college game has become a powerful pipeline for both elite talent and lifelong players. The 2025 DUPR Nationals in Atlanta, GA featured over 600 student athletes competing from 64 schools, with a total prize purse of $40,000+.
At the center of this growth is JOOLA, whose partnerships with DUPR and leading universities nationwide are helping shape the future of pickleball. As Timber Tucker, JOOLA’s College Partnerships Coordinator, puts it: “College pickleball has exploded into three major tours and hundreds of colleges involved. It’s not unusual for a school to send five or more MLP-style teams to a single event.”
As the offical ball sponsor of the NCPA Tour and presenting partner of the DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Tour, underscore JOOLA's commitment, aligning the sport’s premier paddle brand with two out of the three collegiate tours in the country.
Each day, Timber Tucker, JOOLA's Director of College Relationships, is the guy to talk to about college pickleball. Starting with the company back in September of 2025, Timber hit the ground running signing new schools, and getting the ball deal done at the end of last year with NCPA Tour and most recently the Presenting Partner with the College Pickleball Tour. And for the purposes of this article he was kind enough to let me pick his brain, and share his passion for Collegiate pickleball.
A Community Unlike Any Other
“While the matches are insanely competitive, it is a tight-knit community where I have seen so many friendships built,” says Tucker. “There’s a certain ‘Kum-By-Yah’ quality that’s rare in the world today.”
Anyone who has attended a collegiate pickleball tournament knows the atmosphere is special. The competition is intense, but the culture is uniquely welcoming, something rare in modern sports.
From teams averaging DUPR ratings above 5.0 to newer programs closer to 3.5, the joy of competition remains constant regardless of experience level. That shared passion is a major reason JOOLA invests early in collegiate athletes. “Once they play our top-of-the-line paddles, we have a great chance to acquire a loyal customer for the next 40+ years,” commented Tucker.
JOOLA's Partner Schools
"A big part of my job is calling college and working to secure equipment deals with the school's recreational sports programs," said Tucker, "But the best part of my job, is that I get to go to all the regionals and nationals and hang out with the players."
Since joining in 2025, Tucker has taking the total of JOOLA sponsor Univierity programs to a robust 12. JOOLA proudly supports a diverse and accomplished group of college programs across the country, each contributing uniquely to the sport’s growth, including:
Baylor University
A powerhouse in the thriving Texas pickleball scene, Baylor boasts one of the most active collegiate clubs in the country, consistently competing and succeeding at both regional and national events.
University of Florida
With impressive depth and consistency, Florida has established itself as a dominant force, highlighted by its victory at the APP 2025 National Championships.
University of Hawaii
Despite geographic challenges, Hawaii remains deeply embedded in the island pickleball community and has performed admirably at the events it’s able to attend.
Harvard University
A leader in the Northeast, Harvard has qualified for multiple national championships and even made history with what may have been the first former college football player to transition into competitive pickleball.
Indiana University
Arguably the most decorated collegiate program of the JOOLA schools, Indiana has claimed numerous regional titles across the DUPR/CPT, NCPA, and APP tours. The roster includes Carter Maris, the highest-ranked active college player in the country, and alumni such as Mehvish Safdar, the first collegiate athlete drafted into Major League Pickleball.
University of Maryland
With close ties to JOOLA, Maryland has enjoyed consistent success at both regional and national championships.
Miami University (Ohio)
One of the inaugural college pickleball teams, Miami of Ohio has been competing at a high level since the early days of the collegiate game.
The Ohio State University
A perennial contender, Ohio State has won several regional events and developed a fierce rivalry with Indiana University, producing some of the most memorable collegiate matches.
University of Oregon
A brand-new program eager to make its mark, Oregon represents the next wave of schools joining the national pickleball movement.
Penn State University
Another rising program, Penn State has already found success at regional events in just its first few years.
University of Southern California
USC has generated significant momentum both regionally and nationally, with expectations continuing to rise.
University of Wisconsin
One of the most successful programs in the country, Wisconsin took third place at the inaugural PPA Collegiate World Championships in November 2025.
From Campus Courts to the Pro Ranks
"College pickleball is not a sanctioned NCAA sport yet, but the competition is at the highest-level already," said Tucker, "Pro's play all the time, the skill level is very high."
Historically, the college tennis to pickleball pipeline has provided pickleball with some of its most successful athletes, including Kate Fahey and Brooke Buckner (University of Michigan), Collin Johns (University of South Carolina), or Tyson McGuffin (Scottsdale Community College).
Now the collegiate pickleball game is starting to do what college tennis has, already producing recent pro-ready talent, including Collin Schick, Jack Foster, Jack Munro, Mehvish Safdar, Avery Beck, and Sam Hutner.
Mehvish Safdar won two national college championships while at Indiana University, and as a two time All-American. Just last year she was drafted 13 in MLP draft by the Los Angeles Mad Drops. These players are proof that college pickleball is not just a recreational outlet; it’s a burgeoning pathway to the professional ranks.
Staying Connected to the College Game
"Since last year, College pickleball has exploded into three major tours and hundreds of colleges now involved nationwide. It is not unusual for a school to send five or more MLP-style teams to a single event." - Tucker
If you just can't get enough pickleball, then you're in luck, because College pickleball isn't hard to find. The 2026 College pickleball season can be streamed almost every weekend on Pickle TV, DUPR’s YouTube channel, and the APP YouTube channel.
For a deeper dive in to College PB, listen, like, share and subscribe to Pickleball U, a weekly podcast co-hosted by the aformentioned Timber Tucker, who offers updates on everything relevant in the world of college pickle. Visit collegiatepb.com for schedules, news, and resources across the collegiate landscape.
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