Welcome

Head Coach Bill Pickthorn

Phone: 408-864-8529
Office: PE-41L
E-mail Address: pickthornwilliam@deanza.edu
Address:

De Anza Community College
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA 95014

About De Anza Women's Badminton

In 2008-2009, after a five-year hiatus, Intercollegiate Women's Badminton will be returning to De Anza College. In its last season in 2003, the De Anza Women's Badminton Team placed second at the State Championships.

Newly hired Women's Badminton coach Bill Pickthorn is confident of quickly returning De Anza to a high level of competitiveness. "There are a lot of very high level badminton athletes in the high school programs in the De Anza district and many already here attending classes. I am confident that we can put together a very competitive team in a very short time." 

The De Anza Women's Badminton Team is open to all students who are willing to commit themselves and work to excel at badminton. Prior competitive experience is desired but not required. "Although the Traveling Team will be limited to 9-12 athletes there will be room for many more to take part in the training, even for a few male athletes who are willing to work with the Women's Team. My goal is not to just field a competitive De Anza Women's Badminton Team, but to give all De Anza Students the opportunity to raise their level of badminton play."

How to Join the Team

Academic Requirements: Full-time student status (10 academic units and 2 units of the intercollegiate women's badminton course for a total of 12 quarter units during the competitive season). Freshman or first-time competitors do not have a unit requirement pre-season. Sophomores or students who wish to compete for a second season must have completed 36 academic units prior to competing their second season. Athletes must maintain at least a 2.0 grade average. Our academic coordinator, Matt Trosper, can help you with more details in this area. Just call 408 864-8646.

Athletic Requirements: No previous competitive badminton experience is required to join the intercollegiate badminton class and try out for the team. All interested athletes are encouraged to register in the course and join in the training. The traveling team will be based on student's ability and commitment to building a winning team.

About the Coach

Bill Pickthorn has been coaching badminton for over 25 years, and has worked with absolute beginners to the top US badminton athletes. His coaching resume includes several World Championships, Thomas and Uber Cup Teams, the Pan American Games and Pan American Championships, and as the Head Coach for the Olympic Training Program in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the 1997 Pan American Championships, Bill's athletes won the first ever US Pan American Gold Medal. After "retiring" from active coaching in 1999, Bill has until recently worked with the Stanford Badminton Club program and still continues to coach many of the bay areas top players on a private basis. Bill is also very active in badminton at the organizational level serving as the Competition Manager for Badminton at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and as the Badminton Technical Deligate for the 1999, 2003, and 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games.