Rising Stars: Steve Hall

Chattanooga might seem like an odd place to put a company that builds squash courts.

If you aren't familiar with the game, squash resembles racquetball, but with different rules, gear and court dimensions.

While trending upward in the South, squash is still associated mostly with the northeastern United States where Ivy League universities and big city squash clubs form the spine of the sport.

Still, Steve Hall, a 50-year-old transplant from Calgary, Alberta, has set up shop in Chattanooga as president of CourtTech U.S.A., a company which installs premium squash and pickle-ball courts around the U.S. One of the company's trophy projects was being one of the builders of the renowned Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center in Philadelphia.

Hall, a former professional squash player and club pro, says that he believes the game could one day reach a critical mass in the South. The foundation for such growth is already being laid in prep schools, he said.

"It's consistently, steadily growing," Hall says of the sport. "You play 45 minutes of squash and you can get a heck of a workout."

CourtTech recently installed some of its German-manufactured courts at Battle Ground Academy in Nashville, and at least one major Chattanooga private school has a squash complex on the drawing board, Hall said.

"What's driving squash is interscholastic sports," he says. "There's a huge educational component to it."

Hall grew up playing youth squash in Canada and graduated to the pro circuit as a young adult. He later crossed over to sports-equipment marketing, working first for Manta and then Dunlop before settling in as a squash teaching pro at Sea Island Resort in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Steve Hall

* Job: President of CourtTech (U.S.A.)* Age: 50* Hometown: Calgary, Alberta (Canada)* Education: University of Calgary* Residence: North Chattanooga* Family: Wife, Anna, and three children: RJ, Reese, and Addy.

In 2015, he purchased McWil Courts, a squash court building company, and later, in 2019, he became a partner in CourtTech as owner and president of the company's U.S. operation.

The company's hub is an office on Hixson Pike. Hall said he and his wife, Anna, who works at the Baylor School, were drawn to Chattanooga due to its temperate climate, central location and good schools.

In 2021, CourtTech installed courts in a half a dozen states including California, Texas, New York, Tennessee and Michigan. The courts are made in Traunstein, Germany, and are known for a design that includes modular, sand-filled side walls and maple floors.

Hall's company has also branched out into installing courts for pickle-ball. The paddle sport is especially popular among older adults.

"Baby boomers used to play tennis," Hall says. "Pickle-ball they can handle (now) because it's less rigorous."

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