Dill Dinkers Teams Up With MD Pickleball Pro Collin Johns

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Dill Dinkers, which has four DMV locations and more than 200 others in the works across the country, has signed professional pickleball player Collin Johns of Maryland as a partner to help market the Dill Dinkers brand.

Dill Dinkers opened its first location in November 2022. The company currently has four corporate-owned locations in Maryland — in Columbia, Finksburg, North Bethesda and Rockville. A year after securing a 15,000-square-foot facility for the pickleball complex in Columbia, the owners doubled their facility's size.

Johns will represent the Dill Dinkers brand at nationally televised events, assist in the education of staff and members, serve as an advisor for franchise operators and appear at corporate events and location openings, the company stated.

Johns made his professional pickleball debut at the 2019 U.S. Open where he made the semifinals in Men's Pro Singles. The following year, he climbed into the top 10 in both singles and doubles and has captured nearly 40 professional titles to date. Johns has co-held the top position in Men's Pro Doubles after the 2022-2023 seasons with his doubles partner and younger brother, Ben Johns, and together they combine to compose the No. 1 men's doubles team.

From May 2019 to December 2021, Johns served as the full-time head racquets professional at the Baltimore Country Club, where he coached tennis, pickleball and platform tennis. He also is the co-owner and founder of Pickleball 360, My Pickleball Coach, and Johns Design and Consulting through which he provides online instructional videos, one-on-one mobile coaching and pickleball-specific consulting to businesses and individuals. He also holds a national sponsorship with JOOLA, the leading manufacturer of table tennis and pickleball equipment.

"As someone who grew up in Maryland and has been in the pickleball space for over six years, I can recall when there were only two permanent courts to play at in the entire state. After meeting the Dill Dinkers team, it was clear to me that their top priority is to provide a quality experience delivered by the best staff," Johns said in a news release. "I am amazed at the swift growth and constant improvement the brand continues to drive. Dill Dinkers is changing the pickleball landscape in Maryland and around the country. As a touring professional, I have seen first-hand the need for quality infrastructure to continue and serve the incredible growth taking place in pickleball. I am excited to see what lies in store for Dill Dinkers as we launch our partnership and continue to develop and optimize the brand."

Dill Dinkers co-founder and CEO Will Richards, an avid pickleball player himself, said the partnership with Johns will help shine an even brighter light on the sport and its athletes.

"We are thrilled to be growing as we have been and now with our mutually beneficial partnership with Collin, we not only are fulfilling a need for state-of-the-art indoor pickleball facilities across the nation but are giving rise to pickleball players to become professional athletes through clinics, tournaments and mentorship with industry-leading players and sponsors," Richards said.

Related:

Indoor Pickleball Facility Coming To Howard County This Fall

Dill Dinkers Pickleball Complex To Double In Size In Howard County