Our Awesome Staff
Matt & Hollie Lavinder
Owners
Matt and Hollie Lavinder purchased the facility in 2020 and immediately began a major remodel that added six indoor pickleball courts, an indoor soccer field, Fitness Zone, salt room, sauna, massage room, and the Third Half Pub. Construction on an outdoor pickleball park, upgrades to the clay tennis courts, a physical therapy clinic, and full indoor/outdoor bar, The Patio, which opened in March 2024.
Matt and Hollie are driven by their desire to build an accessible, top quality sport and social environment in their hometown. In just two years after purchasing the facility in 2020, the membership increased from 62 to over 4,000. After establishing programming for tennis, pickleball, and soccer, the Lavinders are now focused on helping the Plex provide the highest standard of player development in the region.
In addition to owning the Sportsplex, the Lavinders founded New Again Houses, which has over 50 franchise locations nationwide and recently ranked among the Top 25 national franchise systems by Franchise Business Review.
Avid tennis players and PTR Licensed Tennis Instructors, Matt and Hollie have spent most of their lives in soccer. In addition to both being Arsenal FC supporters for 25 years, Matt is the winningest coach in King University soccer history and holds a USSF A License, USSF Goalkeeping License, USSF Youth National License, and a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma. He remains involved in Tri-Cities United soccer club.
Ripley Amell
Tennis Director
Ripley, founder and director of Tournament Players Academy (TPA), initially established the program in Tampa, FL, where it gained international acclaim for both short and long-term training, alongside virtual schooling. In 2019, TPA moved to Boone, NC, to join the Yonahlossee Tennis Resort & Club, and now its headquarters is at the Plex. With a proven track record in adult and junior tennis development, Ripley previously ran a successful Adult Vacation Tennis School in Canada and later founded the National Tennis Academy in Orlando. He has placed over a hundred athletes in collegiate programs and coached two players from ages 9 to 18 to win National Championships. TPA is poised to make a significant impact in tennis at the Plex.
Matt Yelton
Soccer Director
Matt Yelton brings a wealth of experience from the highest levels of American soccer. Yelton started the women’s soccer program at King University before winning four national championships as the women’s coach at Lee University. Yelton went on to become the director at the top clubs in Chattanooga, including as Director of Coaching at Red Wolves, one of the top youth clubs in the southeast. In addition to leading the soccer program at the Plex, Yelton is an assistant with the ETSU women’s program.
Alex Rush
Certified Pickleball Pro
Alex is a PPR pro-certified teaching pro. He is ranked amongst the top pickleball players in the area. Coach Alex has devoted the last year to growing the game of pickleball in the Tri-Cities Area.
Ryan Sparks
Physical Therapist & Sports Performance Trainer
Ryan Sparks is a physical therapist and sports performance trainer who runs his Sparked Rehab and Athletics practice at the Plex. Ryan provides free consultations to Plex members along with one on one rehab, dry needling, cupping, and performance training. See Sparkedrehab.com for more information on services provided.