Russell & Gunnar.
A two-coach team.

Russell Krzyzanowski

Director of Pickleball · Village Health Clubs

Russell Krzyzanowski is the Director of Pickleball at Village Health Clubs in North Scottsdale, where he oversees a thriving pickleball community of more than 500 members. From managing leagues and championship-level courts to teaching 5–8 lessons a day, Russell lives on the courts and coaches the game every day. His approach is built around immediate, practical instruction players can take directly into their next match.

His home courts have welcomed some of the biggest names in professional pickleball, including Ben Johns, Collin Johns, James Ignatowich, Anna Bright, Jack Sock, Connor Garnett, and Jay Devilliers. Russell also competes in professional qualifiers, giving him experience with the game from both the coaching and high-performance competitive sides.

Originally from New Jersey and raised in Scottsdale, Russell was a four-year NCAA Division I collegiate athlete and has coached athletes for more than 10 years. He was mentored in pickleball by Jim Krimbill, a USTPA Master Professional with more than 20 years in the game.

Russell's coaching is energetic, direct, and personalized. He focuses on helping players understand why they're winning or losing points, what patterns are developing in their game, and exactly what they should work on next.

Gunnar Anderson

Head Pickleball Pro

Gunnar was born and raised in Perham, Minnesota, where his competitive background began in tennis before developing into a passion for pickleball. As a Head Boys Tennis Coach, he helped lead players to the state tournament multiple times — the first state qualifications in program history — establishing a track record of developing athletes and helping them reach new levels.

After transitioning into pickleball, Gunnar quickly became a successful competitor and built a popular pickleball practice league in his hometown, creating an environment centered around purposeful repetition, competition, and improvement.

Gunnar brings a player-development mindset to TheKtchnParty. His coaching emphasizes consistency, hard work, confidence, and understanding the purpose behind every shot. He believes great coaching isn't just about fixing technique — it's about helping players recognize patterns, make better decisions, and develop a game they can trust under pressure.

Known for making instruction simple, positive, and actionable, Gunnar works with players of every age and level. His goal is to give each player a clear path forward while keeping training competitive, personalized, and fun.

Together, Russell and Gunnar bring two complementary coaching perspectives to TheKtchnParty — combining high-level strategy, real-world match analysis, and proven player development to help players understand their game and know exactly what to work on next.