I am pleased to share a few highlights of our accomplishments in 2024, reflecting the continued leadership and innovation we are demonstrating, and the growth and impact of our initiatives across multiple domains.
Coach Certification and Community Engagement
- Trained 97 coaches and certified 65 in ten courses, increasing total certified coaches in the U.S. to 546 and the number of known coaches in the U.S. by 208% since launching the Coach Pass program two years ago.
- Led community meetings in Los Angeles, clarifying the impact of Olympic inclusion and outlining plans to leverage opportunities for squash.
- Supported a record 66 Women’s Squash Week events nationwide.
Youth and Public Programming
- Expanded PlayLA! programming to four parks and launched public school programs in partnership with Access Youth Academy.
- Introduced the scholastic squash physical education training program with online materials, videos, and gear distribution.
- Supported the Houston public school program, introducing squash to nearly 300 third to fifth-grade students through gym classes.
Junior and Collegiate Milestones
- Drove record participation in both the Junior and Intercollegiate Squash Doubles Championships.
- Celebrated 100 years of college squash and successfully completed the CSA Commissioner transition with a US Squash staff member.
- Resumed record-setting participation in the U.S. Junior Open, welcoming 1,007 competitors.
- Fielded for first time a Junior Team USA squad at the Egyptian Junior Open.
Excellence and Team USA Squash Achievements
- Secured a record 16 British Junior Open quarterfinalists and three top-3 finishes.
- Tied Junior Women’s and Men’s team highest-ever finishes at World Junior Championships.
- Tied the best-ever finish in the World Championship, with the Women’s Team securing 2nd place.
- Transitioned High Performance Program leadership to Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach Nick Taylor.
Event Partnerships and Promotion
- Hosted for the first time a combined junior women’s and men’s World Junior Squash Championships in partnership with Houston Squash.
- Partnered with the National Squash League (NSL) for its inaugural season and hosted the Finals at the Specter Center.
- Innovated championship structures by separating the Women’s Masters and combining the National Junior Silver/Bronze Championships.
- Launched the inaugural Masters Squash Series, hosting eight Masters events across the U.S. this season.
- Hosted the 2nd Women & Girls Summit at the Specter Center.
Sponsorship, Marketing, and Advancement
- Secured Comcast Business as the title sponsor of the U.S. Open and delivered a record-high prize purse.
- Conducted comprehensive demographic market research of the squash community to advance sponsorship sales.
- Formally launched the U.S. Squash Foundation, assembled a Board of Managers with more than 20 members.
Innovation in Infrastructure
- Developed the “up in a day, for less than $50k” specification for a modular squash court prototype, directed its design and contracted for manufacturing.
- Partnered with the PSA Foundation U.S. to advance the Project Beacon outdoor squash project in Chicago.
- Launched revenue-generating initiatives in the Club Locker technology offering business-to-business tiers for facilities and a direct-to-consumer subscription model.
Governance and Leadership
- Successfully coordinated with the USOPC International Relations department, secured international federation support to elect Mark Pagon as a WSF Executive Board VP.
- Completed quadrennial USOPC audit review to maintain status as the certified national governing body member of the committee for squash.
- Continued leadership role in the tri-part collaborative (PSA-WSF-US Squash) for LA28, including venue exploration, broadcast enhancements, and expanded distribution.
These achievements represent the results of the collective dedication of our staff, athletes, partners, and community. I look forward to continuing to lead this momentum into 2025 and beyond as we build on the strong foundation the organization has built over the last decade.
Sincerely,
Kevin Klipstein
President & CEO