Drury University Varsity Pickleball Launch: Drury University varsity pickleball launchDrury University has made history by becoming the first school in the United States to launch varsity pickleball. The program is led by Jarrod Smith, a pickleball pro, national champion, and longtime tennis coach who shifted to coaching pickleball only a year ago.
What Varsity Means
At most colleges, sports are divided into club and varsity. Club sports are run by students with smaller budgets and often volunteer coaches. Varsity sports, however, are part of the school’s athletics department.
This comes with important benefits, such as:
Scholarships to support athletes
Paid coaches to lead training
Budgets and access to facilities
Official schedules against other schools
While more than 125 universities have club pickleball teams, Drury is the first to elevate it to varsity status. That means pickleball players at Drury now have the same support and recognition as basketball or tennis athletes.
Why Drury’s Move Matters
The university’s choice to go first could inspire others to follow. Jarrod Smith explained the motivation behind the decision.
“We wanted to be the first, but we don’t want to be the only,” Smith said in an interview with Pickleballers. “I want Drury to be a resource for other schools. We’ve seen pickleball grow recreationally, professionally, and at the junior level. Now college is the final frontier and we’re ready to help others get there.”
Recruiting Without Limits
Launching a varsity program without NCAA rules gives Drury flexibility. High school athletes specializing in pickleball are rare, so Smith is looking at crossover players, transfers, and even professionals interested in college competition.
He believes the high school pipeline will grow as more tournaments open doors to varsity opportunities.
“It’s wide open,” Smith said in that same interview with Pickleballers. “That freedom lets us create a schedule that prepares players for both college competition and professional aspirations. We can play in charity events, pro circuits, or matches against club programs. The flexibility is huge.”
A New Era in Collegiate Pickleball
Drury’s program may be the start of a larger trend in college sports.
“Pickleball is coming fast,” Smith said in the interview. “We want to make it great at the college level. And once one school does it, the dominoes will fall.”
The launch comes as the collegiate pickleball season kicks off with several major tournaments the weekend of September 27. These include the Utah Super Regional, Pickleball Kingdom Charleston Campus Regional, College Cup Roanoke, and Purdue Campus Regional.
The Road Ahead
Drury’s decision could reshape how colleges view pickleball. With scholarships, coaching, and flexible competition, the university has set an example that others may soon follow. If more schools adopt varsity pickleball, the sport could grow rapidly across college campuses in the coming years.
News in Brief: Drury University Varsity Pickleball Launch
Drury University has become the first school in the U.S. to launch varsity pickleball, led by coach Jarrod Smith. Unlike club programs, varsity athletes receive scholarships, coaching, and full athletic support. Smith hopes other universities will follow as the collegiate pickleball season begins with tournaments on September 27.
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