Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Duke.
Hi Ben, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I first came to campus, I stumbled across the Pickleball Club, which at the time was more of a casual, social group where people just got together to play. My parents are big pickleball players, so when I told them about it, we started talking about the idea of collegiate tournaments. That’s how we discovered the DUPR Collegiate Tournament, and I got a group of friends together to go compete.
That first experience was eye-opening—we saw teams from schools like Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Clemson, Kentucky, Virginia, and more. It showed us how big and competitive the collegiate pickleball scene really was, and it motivated us to take things more seriously.
From there, we started playing and training more consistently, organizing ourselves better, and finding more tournaments to enter. At the beginning of this year, I stepped into the role of president, and one of my main goals has been to restructure the club, build out more leadership positions, and set us up to grow sustainably. Since then, our membership has expanded from about 600 to nearly 1,000 students, and we’re planning to attend more tournaments than ever before.
So what started as just a fun club I stumbled across has really grown into a competitive program, and it’s been exciting to help lead that transformation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. In many ways, we were building the competitive side of the club from the ground up, which meant we had to figure out a lot of things on our own and as we go. One of the biggest challenges was learning how to actually manage a club at that scale, including everything from coordinating practices to setting up leadership roles and systems.
Funding was also a hurdle. Tournaments require travel, fees and logistics, so we had to be creative in finding ways to support those expenses while keeping the club accessible to students. On top of that, we faced the challenge of recruiting not just casual players, but people who were committed to competing and representing the university.
Looking back, though, those struggles really pushed us to grow. They forced us to get organized, to think strategically about sustainability, and to build a culture where serious players and casual players both have a place. In the long run, those early challenges made the club stronger.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What I’m most proud of is serving as President of our Pickleball Club, especially seeing how far we’ve come in such a short time. That said, none of it would be possible without the rest of our exec team. It has truly been a collective effort.
What sets us apart is how quickly we’ve grown and the role we now play on campus. Pickleball has become a hub for students who want a fun, social, and active outlet, and it’s something that appeals to such a wide range of people. We’ve built a community where anyone can feel welcome, from beginners just picking up a paddle to players who want to compete at a high level.
On the competitive side, I’m especially proud of how we’ve transitioned from just a group of friends traveling to tournaments under the university’s name to becoming a recognized collegiate team that competes at the national level. That growth, both in size and in competitiveness, is something that really defines what we do and what I’m known for: helping turn a casual club into one of the fastest-growing and most engaged student organizations on campus.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Our club truly appreciates any support from the Vol community. Whether it’s through donations or simply following our journey on Instagram, every bit helps us grow and continue building a strong pickleball presence here at UT and across the nation!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/utpickleballteam/?hl=en
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennesseepickle/?hl=en
