US National Team Coaches

Absolute Coaching Team

Male Team

Jacobo Blanco de Miguel

Head Coach

Bio

Jacobo Blanco de Miguel is a seasoned professional in the world of padel, with 17 years of experience competing on the global circuit. Ranked 31st in the world (2019) and 15th in the USA in 2024, he has made significant contributions to the sport both as a player and a coach.

He was a runner-up at the 2010 European Championship and has been a national coach for the Spanish Padel Federation since 2001.

Jose Pablo Arizpe

Assistant Coach

Bio

Jose Pablo Arizpe brings over a decade of elite playing and coaching experience to the U.S. Men’s National Team. A former #1 ranked player in the USPA, Jose represented the United States in every Men’s Open World Padel Championship from 2014 to 2024, making him one of the most consistent and experienced competitors in U.S. padel history.

In 2023, he was drafted as a player by the Miami Padel Club in the Pro Padel League (PPL) and transitioned to a coaching role for the club in 2024, continuing to contribute both on and off the court at the professional level.

Jose holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in International Business, combining his deep knowledge of padel with a global perspective and strong leadership skills. His commitment, competitive experience, and strategic insight make him an integral part of the national team’s success.

Female Team

Ricardo Alcantara

Head Coach

Bio

Richy Bailey has been deeply involved with padel for over 30 years as a player, coach, and mentor.

A former top U.S. National Team player and current head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, he has represented the country in six World Championships.

Richy has coached at the highest levels internationally and is passionate about growing padel in the U.S. through coach education, player development, and elite training programs.

Last year, Richy formed a US female team that qualified for the 2024 World Championship in Doha, leaving Mexico and Canada out of the Championship.

Mariana Talarico

Assistant Coach

Bio

Mariana Talarico has been playing padel since 2009, achieving top rankings, including being ranked No. 1 in the Women’s USPA Ranking and winning a silver medal at the 2024 +50 FIP Seniors World Padel Championships in Alicante, Spain.

She has been a key player for the Women’s USA National Team, competing in multiple World Championships Absolute (2012 in Cancún, 2014 in Mallorca, 2016 qualifiers in Belgium, 2018 in Asunción, 2021 in Qatar, and 2022 in Dubai) as well as World Championships Seniors (2022 in Las Vegas and 2024 in Alicante). Additionally, she represented the USA in Panamerican Championships (2019-2023) and other international tournaments such as the CUPRA FIP events in Italy.

Mariana has also taken on leadership roles as team captain for the USA National Team at the 2021 and 2022 World Championships and 2024 Seniors World Championship in Alicante, among other major competitions.

As an assistant coach, she helped guide the USA Women’s Team to a historic first-place finish at the Panamerican Championship in Cancun in 2023. She also contributed to the 2023 Panamerican Seniors Championship in Brazil and the 2024 World Championship in Qatar, demonstrating her expertise in developing top-level athletes.

Mariana is a certified Padel Coach (Level I & II) and beyond padel, she is a licensed pediatric physical therapist. She owns 123 Therapy Inc. and 123 Special Care Kids PPEC in Miami, specializing in pediatric care for children with special needs. She combines her passion for sports with her dedication to healthcare and coaching.

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Amateur Coaching Team

Jon Guerra

Bio

Jon Guerra, originally from Santander, Spain, is currently based in Los Angeles, California. His passion for padel began in 2005 while growing up in Spain. After relocating to the U.S., Jon embraced a new playing environment and culture, making a significant impact in the American padel community. With years of competitive experience in Spain, Jon achieved a professional ranking of #13 in the USA in 2023. Now a coach, he combines his competitive background with a practical approach to training, focusing on skill development and strategy. In 2024, Jon also co-led the Panamerican USA team as head coach in Paraguay.

Celeste Paz

Bio

Celeste Paz is a seasoned professional in the world of padel, with over 18 years of competitive experience on the international circuit. Ranked as high as #6 in the world and maintaining a Top 20 World Ranking for 15 consecutive years, she has established herself as one of the sport’s elite competitors. A former Argentine Junior National Champion, she went on to compete on the Padel Pro Tour and World Padel Tour, claiming titles in the Madrid Professional Federation League and earning consistent Top 10 finishes in FIP European Tournaments. Now based in San Diego, California, she serves as Head Coach at Kingdom Padel, where she brings her world-class expertise to players of all levels through elite player development, tactical coaching, and international clinics spanning more than 15 years using her methodology based on custom biomechanics analysis.

Fran Plaza

Bio

Francisco “Fran” Plaza is a professional padel coach and personal trainer with over a decade of experience developing players across Spain, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. A Federated First Category player in Spain and certified by both the Professional Padel Federation and the Argentine Padel Federation, Fran has built a reputation for elite-level coaching at every stage of his career.

He served as Head Padel Coach in Saudi Arabia, where he guided a women’s doubles pair to a third-place finish at the Saudi Games, and currently holds the role of Head Padel Coach at Padel Haus Nashville. Notably, he has also coached Premier Padel player Miguel Ángel Solbes. In 2025, Fran authored Padel Pro, a specialized book on padel technique, tactics, and coaching methodology.

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Senior Coaching Team

Marcelo Perez

Bio

Marcelo “Masa” Perez Roncevic is a highly experienced professional padel coach with over 25 years in the sport. He specializes in planning and executing training programs for individuals and groups, and has coached competitive players, including those on the World Padel Tour (WPT). Marcelo has held significant roles such as the Sports Director at Padel & Gol S.L., managing children’s schools and organizing tournaments. Additionally, he coached the German Veterans and Junior teams for the German Padel Federation. He has organized international clinics across various countries, including Germany, Argentina, and Italy. His coaching achievements include working with top players like Pablo Lima and winning numerous titles, such as multiple Spanish and European championships. Marcelo is also an accomplished player, with over 40 tournament wins and a Master Champion title in Argentina. He holds international coaching certifications and is passionate about developing both players and the sport overall.

Angel Espadas

Bio

Angel Espadas is a seasoned sports professional and coach with extensive experience in logistics, padel, soccer, and futsal. Born in Molins de Rei, Barcelona, in 1967, he has worked in diverse roles within the sports industry, from managing sports clubs to coaching and developing athletic talent.

Angel holds degrees in General History and Geography from Barcelona’s University and Business Sciences (Logistics) from the Open University of Catalonia. Over the past 15 years, he has worked at Novartis Nutrition in logistics and owned several sports stores, including Physical and Padel Pro shops. He has held key roles in multiple sports organizations, including as Club Director and Head Coach at Real Padel Miami and manager of padel and pickleball courts at Caribe Royale Orlando.

In addition to his coaching career, Angel is the founder of Play Easy Padel Academy and has contributed to the development of youth soccer and futsal programs, including founding the Molins Futsal School and Women’s Soccer School. He holds numerous certifications, including from the Spanish Padel Federation and USPTA, and has coached internationally. Currently, he continues to advance his career with certifications in padel coaching and physical preparation for athletes.

Antonio Martinez

Bio

Antonio started his journey in padel 14 years ago and was soon selected to represent his city on the juniors team, competing with the best junior players in Spain, including Juan Lebron, one of the top players in the world.

After completing his degree in Sport Science, he began training as a coach and started giving lessons in his hometown at the age of 22.

During his internship at JC Ferrero-Equelite Academy, he was offered the position of director and head coach of the Padel School after a summer. Sanyo and Claudio Gilardoni then established the JC-Sanyo Academy, where he continued to work as a coach and learn from Claudio Gilardoni.

He has had the privilege of training and coaching players such as Paula Jose Maria (No. 1 in the world), Agustin Tapia (No. 1 in the world), Sanyo Gutierrez, and Agustin Gutierrez, among others.

He also coaches and travels to tournaments with Mario Brocal, who is ranked No. 1 in the world Under 14. Additionally, he has experience coaching professional tournaments, including the New York A1 Padel in 2023.

Currently, he serves as the Head Coach of Padel N9NE in San Diego.

Gabriel Ferrer

Bio

After completing his degree in Sport Science, he began training as a coach and started giving lessons in his hometown at the age of 22.

He has had the privilege of training and coaching players such as Paula Jose Maria (No. 1 in the world), Agustin Tapia (No. 1 in the world), Sanyo Gutierrez, and Agustin Gutierrez, among others.

Currently, he serves as the Head Coach of Padel N9NE in San Diego.

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Junior Coaching Team

Lorena Rouillon Jimenez

Bio

Lorena Rouillon was born in Lleida, Spain, on August 30, 1997, and has been playing padel for over seven years. She is one of the top women’s players in the U.S., and in 2023, she was ranked among the top four in the country.

She is currently the U.S. National Junior Coach and has trained players on the U.S. Absolute, Senior, and Junior Teams. As one of the first padel coaches in the country and one of the few female coaches, Lorena has played a key role in the sport’s growth in the U.S.

Lorena has been instrumental in developing junior talent, organizing national team tryouts, and preparing players for international competition. Her dedication to coaching and growing the sport has helped elevate U.S. padel to new levels, inspiring the next generation of players.

Jaume (Tato) Rouillon Jimenez

Bio

Jaume Rouillon, born the 25th of April in Lleida, Spain, is a highly skilled padel coach with over eight years of experience. Despite his young age, he has built an impressive career, earning recognition for his work with top level players.

Jaume holds a prestigious coaching certification from Spain. Jaume has coached some of the world’s top junior players back in his country and he is actually the US National Junior Coach. He has also worked with top US women’s and men’s players, helping to raise the overall level of competition in the US.

Before dedicating himself to coaching, Jaume competed at a high level in Spain, where he developed a deep understanding of the game. His passion, technical expertise, and ability to develop talent make him a key figure in the growth of padel in the U.S.

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