Coachella Valley Scorpions Prepare for a Bright Future
By: Chris Lewis
When the National Pickleball League (NPL) was created in 2022, Kim Jagd desired to be an owner of one of its original six teams.
Unable to achieve this goal at that time, she instead participated as a signed player. Drafted by the NPL’s Indy Drivers, she had a very successful season last year. Not only did she win 85 percent of her matches, but the Drivers also won the league’s inaugural national title.
“It was an exhilarating experience—the most fun I’ve had while playing pickleball the last 10 years,” she stresses.
Yet, despite this exhilaration, her passion for ownership still remained fully intact. While acquiring more knowledge about the game, she eventually pursued potential investors who shared her visions.
The first was Rob Zwemmer, a renowned real estate agent that lives near Jagd in Indian Wells, Calif.’s Desert Horizons Country Club. A passionate pickleball player, he has participated in Desert Horizons’ thriving pickleball program alongside Jagd. Due to his enthusiasm for the game, he was interested in joining her as she purchased a NPL team.
“Rob had the pickleball passion and business savvy to become the perfect partner for this endeavor together, resulting in the creation of the Coachella Valley Scorpions,” she emphasizes.
For further support, she found another partner: actor Vince Vaughn, who—along with being known for movies like Wedding Crashers and Dodgeball—is very knowledgeable about sports. Vaughn’s children were enrolled at Jagd’s daughter’s volleyball training business, leading to a friendship. Soon, Jagd was introduced to Vaughn, as they all began to play pickleball together.
“Vince was intrigued with the idea of a professional pickleball league for individuals who are 50 years old or older (as is the case with the NPL) and very shortly thereafter became the Coachella Valley Scorpions’ majority owner,” she says.
As a result of Vince’s involvement, which was announced nationally this July, the NPL and the Scorpions received considerable media attention.
“Vince is committed to growing the Coachella Valley Scorpions and helping people—both young and old—become involved with this great lifelong sport,” she states.
In addition, former tennis professional Vince Van Patten offered to support Jagd as a team member. A pickleball player since 2021, Van Patten has competed for the Scorpions as a substitute for an injured team member.
“The Scorpions have great camaraderie, and pickleball is the world’s most social sport,” he says. “I have made tons of instant friends.”
He adds, “I’m also devoting my body and mind to pickleball because I love playing it at a high level, which I can’t do in tennis anymore.”
Dayne Gingrich, a professional pickleball player and co-author of the best-selling book Pickleball Mindset, has become involved as a team member, too. As the Scorpions’ number one draft pick and the NPL’s overall number two pick, he was particularly attracted by the league’s competition. Since being drafted, he has been focused on leading the Scorpions to a national title.
“I gravitate toward the potential of development, both on and off the court,” he explains. “I love having the opportunity to do more than my peers—working harder, sacrificing more and developing a level of grit that the majority won’t strive for. And the Scorpions have allowed me to do exactly that.”
Aside from Van Patten and Gingrich, Jagd (alongside team manager Ryan Wills) has recruited a variety of other highly talented pickleball players. In all, Jagd and Wills, while relying on their Division 1 recruiting and training experience, observed 275 players during two player combines, prior to drafting their current team members.
“We did the extra work to make sure we not only had great pickleball players, but good team players and personalities that would get along well together,” she says. “So far, that work has really paid off as our team is very cohesive and unselfish. Our team members love to compete for (and with) each other!”
As of Sept. 10, when this article was written, the Scorpions had competed in four NPL events, leading to a sixth place showing overall. Thus far, tournaments have been held in locations ranging from Kansas to Texas. Its final competition will occur later in the fall during NPL’s Championship Weekend, set to be hosted at Cincinnati, Ohio’s The Pickle Lodge on Oct. 18, 19 and 20.
Although the team endured several injuries this season, Jagd is highly optimistic about its future. First off, it has recently partnered with Agua Caliente Casinos, which is serving as a presenting sponsor. Due to this partnership, the Scorpions will be creating entertaining pickleball events, clinics and camps.
“Agua Caliente Casinos will help the Scorpions spread pickleball’s incredible health and wellness benefits throughout the Coachella Valley [as well],” she states.
Furthermore, the Scorpions are preparing to create a farm team and program that will enable 45- to 60-year-olds—who are already near the professional level—to refine their skills and strategies, which they’ll need while preparing to become potential full-time NPL members.
“We also intend to create a foundation that will promote pickleball, health and wellness among the Coachella Valley’s youth,” Jagd adds. “Additionally, we are interested in finding partners that will help us build a substantial indoor and outdoor venue, which will be used for competitive, amateur and community pickleball events.”
For more information, visit scorpionspickleball.com. All Scorpions events are live streamed on www.youtube.com/@nationalpickleballleague, too.