Meet the Pickleball Pro: In the competitive world of sports, where many aspiring athletes abandon their day jobs to pursue their dreams full-time, Andrea Koop stands out as a unique exception. Rather than taking the plunge to leave her legal career behind, she has mastered the art of balancing her rising practice with an impressive competitive presence in the PPA Tour and the MLP Challenger Level ranks as a dedicated member of the Brooklyn Aces.
The Legal Landscape
A proud graduate of the Michigan State University College of Law, Koop serves as a partner at Bosch Killman VanderWal, PC, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she specializes as a civil litigation attorney. The demands of her legal career are significant and often rigorous, yet she continues to make professional pickleball a priority in her life, proving that it is possible to successfully juggle both worlds.
“I have a few strategies to help balance it all, but it’s never Goldilocks. It’s either so busy or kind of dead,” Koop explained during a recent interview at the PPA Tour’s Atlanta Slam.
“It’s nice to be on tour when it’s quiet at the office. This morning, I worked to get some billable hours in, and then I came here for the progressive draw. I’ve been answering emails between matches and putting fires out on my phone.” – (koop)
Rising Through the Ranks
Koop’s journey in the legal field has been marked by steady progression and remarkable achievements. After joining Bosch Killman VanderWal, PC as an associate attorney in January 2017, she quickly gained expertise in various legal areas, including auto negligence, personal injury law, no-fault law, insurance law, and commercial disputes. Her work not only shows her legal skills but also her adaptability in a challenging profession.
“My first job out of law school was working for a judge on the business docket. All the business docket in court means is that any business that is sued—or if a business is involved in a lawsuit—they go right to a special docket. It basically means I like to argue about money on the defense side.” – (koop)
This early experience laid the groundwork for her current success, showing her passion for the legal field.
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Mutual Benefits of Dual Careers
For Koop, juggling her roles as a lawyer and a professional pickleball player has created a mutually beneficial scenario, enriching both aspects of her life. The skills she hones in the courtroom translate seamlessly to the pickleball court, showing her unique ability to thrive in intense situations.
“The competitiveness in the courtroom is definitely good for the pickleball court. As a partner, I get more of my own files and my own cases, and I lead on the case. There is more responsibility, but I’m also tasked with delegating some work because I’m trying to feed the firm as well.” – (koop)
This perspective highlights the intricate relationship between her two professions, where each one enhances the other. Though it may seem logical for someone in her position to pause one career to focus on the other, Koop is resolute in her commitment to both paths.
“When I first started playing pickleball, I was kind of a slave to my desk because that’s the culture of being a lawyer. Then, COVID hit, and we had to work from home because there was a state mandate. At that point, it was proven that you don’t have to be at the desk. I can still get my billable hours in and not be at home. Once pickleball started back up, I was still able to play while working remotely.” – (koop)
This revelation speaks to her adaptability and the evolution of work-life balance in today’s world.
The Road Ahead
Although Koop refers to herself as a “part-time” athlete, her pickleball schedule is anything but relaxed. The Richland, Michigan native is logging significant air miles, and her tournament calendar is rapidly filling up with opportunities to compete at a high level.
“I feel like pickleball is growing more every year, and the full-time schedules for the pros keep getting more and more intense. I’ve been a part-time pro player since the beginning, but pickleball has just kept growing. Part-time in 2021 might have been six tournaments; in 2022, it was 10 tournaments, and now we’re up to 15 tournaments a year as a part-time pickleball player.” – (koop)
This growth shows not only her dedication but also the increasing prominence of pickleball as a sport. Yet, through the hectic schedule and constant demands, Koop makes it all work, showing her exceptional time management skills and passion for law and pickleball.
“I’m blessed that I was able to turn such an amazing pickleball sport into a side career as well,” she concluded, a testament to her ability to harmonize her professional and athletic aspirations.
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News in Brief: Meet the Pickleball Pro
Andrea Koop shows the art of balancing dual careers as a civil litigation attorney and a professional pickleball player. Currently a partner at Bosch Killman VanderWal, PC, she prioritizes her legal work while competing on the PPA Tour and with the Brooklyn Aces. Despite her self-described “part-time” status, Koop’s pickleball tournament schedule has grown significantly over the years
