Craig Bell spent 27 and a half years running the tennis program at one club in Dallas. Then in 2024, he retired, moved back to Utah, and started over, selling padel and pickleball gear across the Intermountain region.

Craig is an RSPA Master Professional, co-host of the At The Net Podcast (closing in on 700 episodes), and owner of Bell Boy Sports. Over 50 years in the industry he's been a player, coach, director, recruiter, equipment rep, live streamer, and podcaster. He's a 6th generation member of the Chickasaw Nation, and his 5th great grandfather was Chief of the tribe in the 1820s.

In this conversation, we get into:

• Starting in racquet sports in 1974 at age 10, and clocking a 131 mph serve at the Jansen Fast Serve Contest in the mid-80s
• 27.5 years running the program at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas, and what actually kept it interesting that long
• Taking play at University Club Dallas from almost nothing to a 300% increase
• Coaching his son Chris to a 4-time Texas state championship, and watching him become Director of Athletics at Willow Fork Country Club in Houston
• Closing in on 700 episodes of the At The Net Podcast with co-host AJ Chabria
• What "Mr. Conviviality" means to him, and why he thinks it matters in this business
• Retiring from Bent Tree in 2024, moving back to Utah, and starting Bell Boy Sports from scratch
• Being a 6th generation member of the Chickasaw Nation, whose 5th great grandfather was Chief of the tribe

If you're thinking about what comes after decades in one job, or you just want to hear from someone who has done nearly every job in this industry, this one is for you.



ABOUT COURTSIDE
CourtSide is the podcast about the business side of racquet sports. Tennis, pickleball, padel, squash. If you own a facility, run programs, coach players, or operate in this industry, this show is for you. Host Evan Dechtman sits down with facility owners, directors of racquets, head pros, club managers, and operators across the country for honest conversations about what it actually takes to run a racquet sports business. No scripts. No highlight reels. Just two people talking about what they've built, what's working, what's not, and where they think this whole thing is going.

New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe so you don't miss one.

Want to be a guest? Book your spot: https://topspindigital.co/courtside/book Email Evan directly: mailto:evan@topspindigital.co

CONNECT WITH CRAIG BELL
Instagram (Bell Boy Sports): https://instagram.com/bellboysports Instagram (At The Net Podcast): https://instagram.com/at.the.net.podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-bell-30287911