With the Penn State athletic year done and the summer session for freshmen not starting until July 1, we are sure there are plenty of prominent Penn Staters looking for things to do around State College.

Well, we have an idea. With Pegula Ice Arena putting in five pickleball courts, and The Picklr, an indoor pickleball franchise, opening a State College location soon, why not come together to play the fastest-growing paddle sport?

In fact, we will go a step further and recommend some teams that we think could work well together on the court.

Matt Campbell & Tanisha Wright

Both Matt Campbell and Tanisha Wright have been tasked with reviving the Nittany Lions’ historic athletic programs. Campbell, the football team, and Wright, the Lady Lions. We know they have been dealing with immense pressure and many additional hours on the job site. Why not relieve some of their stress through physical activity?

Not to mention, this would likely be a very strong team. Wright played for Penn State from 2001 to 2005 and racked up personal accolades. While in Happy Valley, she was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-Big Ten First Team, First Team USBWA All-American, and three-time AP All-American Honorable Mention.

Campbell was a little less talented but athletic nonetheless. The former Iowa State head coach played Division III for Mount Union. Under legendary head coach Larry Kehres, the two-time All-America selection won three National Championships. He was also named the Ohio Athletic Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year in his senior season.

Mike Rhoades & Pat Kraft

If any team on this list could compete with Campbell and Wright, it’s Penn State basketball head coach Mike Rhoades and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft.

Kraft played football at Indiana, where he worked his way from walk-on to scholarship. Rhoades played college basketball at Lebanon Valley College, helping his team to a Division III national championship in 1994.

The real reason for this team, though, is what could happen if the match goes poorly. With the firing of James Franklin in the 2025 season, we know Kraft is willing to pull the trigger if his emotions get high. Theoretically, if Kraft and Rhoades lose badly, we could see a new head coach in Happy Valley next season. Maybe we would even win four conference games next season.

Neeli Bendapudi & Pat Narduzzi

Yes, we know Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi is not a Penn Stater, but that is exactly why he would be the perfect teammate for Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi.

Penn State and Bendapudi recently hired Reynaldo Bustinza as the new associate vice president for alumni relations and chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association. The introduction article proudly states he will lead the “world’s largest alumni networks, with more than 800,000 Penn Staters worldwide.”

A little less proudly, hidden in the last sentence, it mentions that Bustinza is not one of those 800,000 and, in fact, graduated from Bradley.

Tony Petitti & Willard Preacher

At first, these two seem to have nothing in common. Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti is an ultra-successful television producer, and Willard Preach stands outside a Penn State classroom trying to convert students.

When you dig a little deeper, though, you see that both are experts trying to sell water to fish. Petitti is attempting to convince the college football world, which barely wanted to move from four to a 12-team playoff, to accept a 24-team playoff. Similarly, the Willard Preacher gets college students on the way to class, with noise-canceling headphones on, to stop and talk about religion.

Plus, this team would be absolute cinema. Petitti in a suit, the Willard Preacher in a red hoodie. Who wouldn’t want to watch?

Liam Clifford & Saša Ciani

Simply put, both Liam Clifford (football) and Saša Ciani (basketball) need to find a new sport. Why not let it be pickleball?

We’re sure the $500,000 Clifford made to be Penn State’s emergency quarterback this season could pay for some pretty nice paddles.