Alumni U.S. Squash CEO Has Worked to Broaden the Sport’s Appeal Stories You May Like Meet the Voice of Big Red Men’s Ice Hockey (and Football!) How a 1940 Football Game Became an Icon of Good Sportsmanship From Player to Head Coach: Alum Leads Big Red Men’s Lacrosse A star player for the Big Red, Kevin Klipstein ’91 wants kids from middle school onward to pick up a racket By Melissa Newcomb Around the time that Kevin Klipstein ’91 became president and CEO of U.S. Squash two decades ago, a study found that 90% of people globally had heard of the sport—but in this country, that number was a mere 10%. Back then, the sport’s governing body employed just four people and operated on an $800,000 yearly budget. Now, Klipstein leads a team of 40 employees with an annual budget of $8 million; the U.S. women’s team is ranked second in the world; and squash will debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A. Competing in the 2018 World Masters. He estimates that by the end of 2026, more than half of Americans will be familiar with the sport. “When I first started, I would have said my vision was for a 12-year-old girl in Iowa to be introduced to the sport and aspire to be an Olympian—and I can say we’ve done that,” says Klipstein, noting that his organization’s biggest growth area has been in starting squash programs in middle and high schools. Klipstein fell for the sport early: he grew up playing with his father and brothers in Rochester, NY. When he wanted extra instruction, he took a city bus to a club for practice. When I first started, I would have said my vision was for a 12-year-old girl in Iowa to be introduced to the sport and aspire to be an Olympian—and I can say we’ve done that. “I was lucky for it to be so immediately accessible to me,” he says. Stories You May Like Meet the Voice of Big Red Men’s Ice Hockey (and Football!) How a 1940 Football Game Became an Icon of Good Sportsmanship On the Hill, Klipstein majored in design and environmental analysis in Human Ecology and pledged Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. And of course, he played squash for the Big Red—serving as a co-captain his senior year and being named a Second Team All-American. He took the helm of U.S. Squash in 2004 after working in corporate consulting, sports marketing, and event management. Flanked by his brothers at Commencement. Under his leadership, the organization’s high school championships have grown to comprise more than 200 teams and 1,600 players from 22 states. U.S. Squash is based in Philadelphia, where it recently opened a 75,000-square-foot headquarters which boasts 20 courts, training facilities for Team USA, the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame, and a community program offering squash instruction and tutoring for local kids. Additionally, it partners with organizations in cities around the country to give youth opportunities to play and be mentored. As the sport continues to grow, U.S. Squash is launching a new product in spring 2025 aimed at addressing one of its biggest challenges to accessibility: a modular court, costing less than $50,000, that can be assembled in a day, allowing schools and other facilities to host squash within existing gym space. “We want kids in every state to have the opportunity to learn squash and compete on a public middle or high school team,” Klipstein says, “and we're moving very intentionally toward this new vision for the sport in the U.S.” Top: Klipstein at U.S. Squash's headquarters in Philadelphia. (All photos provided.) Published February 20, 2025 Comments David H. Dickieson, Class of 1977 21 Feb, 2025 I knew Kevin was a gifted and creative squash wizard, but I had no idea that he was the sort of organizational wizard who could lead a small sports organization from an $800,000 budget to an $8 million behemoth. Well done, Kevin! Reply Matthew Roland, Class of 1999 21 Feb, 2025 Thank you so much for growing the sport of squash and for supporting Cornell Squash! Go Big Red! Reply John D Bleuer, Class of 1979 25 Feb, 2025 Hey Kevin, on behalf or Squashwest, I salute the great leadership of US Squash! Your org is full of passionate, can-do people and it makes a difference to a local club owner! Thanks! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Campus & Beyond In a New Book, Prof Translates Ancient Advice for the Lovelorn Quizzes & Puzzles March / April ’24 Trivia Roundup Campus & Beyond In a Posthumous Memoir, Famed Prof Recalls a Turbulent Childhood