Houston Poem
Lead Coach
Houston Poem is a nationally recognized pickleball and tennis coach with a proven record of developing champions and inspiring athletes worldwide. A gold medalist at the 2024 DC Classic and multiple-time tournament winner, Houston combines elite athletic performance with innovative, holistic coaching.
As founder of the BodyMind Tennis method and former Adult Tennis Manager at JTCC, he has introduced thousands of new players to racket sports and mentored professionals competing at the APP Senior Pro and Masters Pro levels.
At ISCEA, Houston is dedicated to building an international coaching and certification system that cultivates the next generation of pickleball coaches around the world—sharing his vision of technical excellence, mindfulness, and global sportsmanship through education and community.
Wei Xiao, Ph.D.
Coach
Dr. Wei Xiao is an accomplished tennis and pickleball coach with over 15 years of experience in athlete development and sports education. A PTR-certified professional and long-time Montgomery TennisPlex coach, he is widely recognized for designing personalized training programs that enhance performance through video analysis, match strategy, and motivational leadership.
An active pickleball coach and teaching assistant with a DUPR 4.3 rating, Dr. Xiao also mentors junior coaches and high-school athletes, fostering teamwork, safety, and sportsmanship. Many of his students have advanced to collegiate and club-level competition.
Beyond the court, Wei holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from The American University and a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. At ISCEA, he contributes his expertise to building structured training pathways and inspiring the next generation of global coaches.
Qijun Cao
Coach
Qijun Cao is a certified pickleball coach and dedicated community instructor with extensive experience teaching players of all ages. A member of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and a PPR-certified coach (No. 137076), he has introduced and trained more than a thousand students in Maryland since 2021.
Coach Cao began his pickleball coaching career with the City of Rockville Department of Recreation and Parks, where he led adult and youth programs that helped grow the local pickleball community. He later served as a pickleball coach at Life Time Fitness in Gaithersburg, continuing to promote the sport’s accessibility, teamwork, and joy.
At ISCEA, Coach Cao is committed to expanding pickleball education and inspiring more people to experience the sport’s global spirit of friendship and connection.
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