Our Instructors
Centerline continues to build its teaching staff and invites potential instructors to contact us or any one of our instructors for possible opportunities.
Gary Bucci – PPR Certified Coach (owner)
Bringing 25+ years of coaching various sports along with 30 + years of Racquet playing experience makes him very well suited to
help you elevate your play! He loves the challenge of making someone better and has an energy level that will motivate players old and young alike!
With years of playing competitive racquetball and winning numerous tournaments it was an easy transition to Pickleball and now plays quite regularly in both RI and Florida. Loving the sport of pickleball as he does, combined with his enthusiastic coaching style makes it easy to stay motivated and learn rather quickly.
Whether you want to just have fun, or get serious at a competitive level, Gary can help you with any aspect of the game; serving, drop shots, how to deal with hard hitters and more. Book a session with Gary today.
Chris O’Neill – PPR Certified Coach (owner)
Chris is one Centerline’s key instructors. He brings 40+ years of Racquet Sport experience (Racquetball, Squash, Tennis and Table Tennis) In addition to his racquet experience, he brings 30+ years of coaching Youth and High Schoolers in multiple sports (Hockey/Baseball).
He’s been teaching Pickleball for the past two years and is PPR Certified coach. Chris plays at an advance level and has competed in tournaments around New England and Florida. As one of the owners at Centerline, Chris is dedicated to fostering a supportive and and inclusive pickleball community. He actively welcomes new players and creates a positive and fun environment so everyone feels welcome and encouraged to improve.
Whether a beginner or an advance player refining their skills, Chris is committed to providing guidance and support every step of the way. Be sure to book a private lesson or join one of his clinics.
Dante Bellini – Owner
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Dante first learned about pickleball while attending Toll Gate High School (class of ‘02) in Warwick, RI. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that he reconnected with the sport through playing in a league with friends that he became a passionate player in his own right. The jump from occasional hobby to obsession became more pronounced with each passing year. In early 2021, he had begun putting business plans together for an indoor facility. The plans evolved, and finding a team and a facility proved to be difficult. That dream would finally begin to become a reality when Centerline Pickleball LLC was incorporated in October of 2023.
When he’s not lobbing and dinking his way around a court, Dante can usually be found at one of Rhode Island’s wonderful beaches with his wife Liz and their two small children or at Providence City Hall, where Dante serves as the Controller for the City of Providence.
M.J. (Mary Jean) Miniati – PPR Certified Coach
M.J. Miniati is the Founder and Director of Fitness and Fun at More Joy Pickleball based in South County R.I. M.J. was also recently chosen by USA Pickleball – the national governing body – to be an Ambassador for Pickleball in RI. A lifelong multi-sport athlete, she competed as a D1AA Scholarship swimmer at the University of Rhode Island and holds a master’s degree in Sport Management from University of Massachusetts.
M.J. has coached numerous sports throughout her career prior to discovering Pickleball over ten years ago. M.J. has introduced over 4,000 players of all ages and skill levels to the game. Her enthusiasm is infectious, ensuring that all players enjoy their pickleball experience. M.J. is a firm believer that she can teach ANYONE how to play Pickleball. She especially enjoys coaching “Learn to Play” – stressing the FUNdamentals of the game – and coaching players and those with limited athletic experience to help them reach their full potential.
Smita Ramnarain – PPR Certified Coach
After playing racquet sports for many years, especially badminton (competitively) and tennis and table tennis (recreationally), Smita made the switch to pickleball a few years ago and has not looked back since. A constant student of the game, a nerd at heart, and a certified PPR Coach, Smita’s passion is to help others discover the joy, magic, and community of pickleball. Over the past few years, Smita has introduced pickleball to several new players, young and old(er), as an assistant coach in the town of East Greenwich’s recreation program.
Whether you are picking up a paddle for the first time, or a more experienced player trying to take your game to the next level, Smita can help. She enjoys working with beginners, where her focus is on breaking down the fundamentals into simple, easy-to-understand, step-by-step progressions, with the ultimate objective of having fun on the courts.
For more advanced players who are serious about improving their game through personalized, actionable strategies, Smita can work with you to improve your decision-making abilities – court positioning, shot placement, consistency, and strategy – so that you can feel confident and in command on the court. As an experienced instructor, she tailors each session to the specific goals of the student(s), and loves seeing players progress. She gets the greatest satisfaction from the “aha!” moments players have on court when that tough-to-master shot clicks, or when someone exclaims “this is so much fun!”
Book a session with Smita and let’s take your pickleball game to new heights—together!
