Callie Jo Smith’s Faith and Pickleball: Professional pickleball player Callie Jo Smith has become a top name in the sport while using her platform to share her faith and family values. An 11-time Professional Pickleball Association Tour champion and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she recently shared her journey on the Church News podcast.
Callie Jo Smith spoke with Church News reporter Mary Richards to explain how her athletic background, family support, and strong faith have shaped her path in pickleball. She said, “I guess my hope through pickleball too, and just in my own life, is to share the love that I have of Jesus Christ and how much He has helped me in my own life, and to be able to share that with other people.”
A Family Rooted in Sports
Callie Jo Smith grew up in a sports-loving family. Her grandfather, Wayne Pierce, first sparked the interest by learning tennis as a child. He passed his love for the game to his children and grandchildren. Callie Jo Smith recalled, “We’d get out there, and we’d play. And I remember some summers we’d get out there, we’d play for three or four hours, and then we’d go swimming, have root beer and ice cream and pizza, and then we’d go back and play for three or four more hours.”
She later married into another athletic family, with her husband Kyle Smith being a fan of basketball. Together, their families continue to bond over sports during holidays and family gatherings. “We still get together as a family and participate. It’s fun traditions that we have that have stuck over the years,” she said.
From Tennis to Pickleball
Callie Jo Smith played college tennis at Brigham Young University and then transferred to the University of Utah. After college, she worked as a tennis coach in Salt Lake City. At first, she disliked pickleball. “I said, ‘All right, pickleball is not a sport,'” she said. “I will never be caught dead with a pickleball paddle in my hand.”
However, that changed when her husband’s grandfather, George Snell, invited her to play in a tournament. She agreed out of kindness and discovered the sport was more enjoyable than expected. A man named Mike Nielsen approached her after the game and encouraged her to keep playing. Though she initially declined, a surprising loss in a casual game against older players changed her mind.
“We got slaughtered,” she said. “I looked at Kyle, and we said, ‘Rematch. OK, OK, we’ll really try this time.'” They lost again, and she realized the game was more complex than she thought. That led her to call Mike Nielsen and learn more about the sport.
Becoming a Pro
What started as exercise turned into a passion. Callie Jo Smith began entering tournaments and discovered a love for the sport and community. “So for me, well, first it was just to get some exercise, then it was a hobby,” she said. “Here I am six years later, almost seven years later, playing. I’m one of the best in the world now and playing at the top of my game.”
She uses social media to share her skills and love of the game. Her family, especially her husband Kyle Smith, supports her in every step. “I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it without him and without his support,” she said. “He’s quit his job, actually, to be full on board with me, help full time manage my schedule and pickleball.”
Faith On and Off the Court
Callie Jo Smith believes her faith is key to staying grounded during tournaments. “So first, the biggest thing for me is prayer, honestly. God comes first, and I’m grateful for a husband that feels the same way,” she said.
Even during competitions, she says a prayer before matches and trusts that things will fall into place. Her children travel with her and her husband, and they all play pickleball together. Her daughter, Camber, now wants to become a professional athlete too.
She remembered balancing family and competition even at her first national event. “I’d go off right after the match, and I’d come and I’d nurse him, and then I’d go back, and then I’d play my match,” she said. “So this whole time, we’ve been a family of travelers figuring out how to make it all work.”
Looking Ahead
Now, Callie Jo Smith is one of the top players in the world. She trains on her own backyard court, often with her husband, and teaches her kids to play too. “It’s definitely been a learning experience,” she said. “It’s fun bringing that to other people, and that love and passion and fun to other people and other families.”
Her goal is to keep growing in the sport while sharing her faith and values. “I’m just so happy to be able to share just the Spirit, the feelings that we’re feeling, and that this gospel is real, right? And that the Spirit of God is real.”
News in Brief: Callie Jo Smith’s Faith and Pickleball
Callie Jo Smith, an 11-time PPA Tour champion, shares her faith and love of family through pickleball. From college tennis to world-class pickleball, her story shows how sports, prayer, and support helped her succeed. She now plays professionally and teaches others, with help from her husband and kids.
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