Ivan Jakovljevic’s Pickleball Journey Started with a Crush (and Ended in Pro Pickleball)

Let’s be honest: switching careers is hard. But switching athletic careers after more than two decades? That’s a whole different level.

In this episode, we sit down with Ivan Jakovljevic, who walked away from a 23-year soccer career to go all in on the world of pro pickleball. And it all started because he had a crush!

We dig into his unexpected pickleball journey, what it’s like learning a totally new sport later in life, and how he keeps his athlete mindset sharp even when he’s running on very little sleep and way too many gummy bears.

From emotional discipline on the court to learning how to find joy in the grind, Ivan shares what helped him make a big change in career, found purpose through pickleball coaching, how he stays focused, and why connection in the pickleball community matters just as much as competitive drive.

If you’ve ever considered a bold pivot, wondered what it’s really like to go pro, or just want to hear a story that proves it’s never too late to start over, this one’s for you.

Let’s dink, sip, and get into it.

Cheers, Casie & Lauren

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