NCS: Tell us about your kicking business.
Vezina Kicking Dynamics is a chance for me to help young kickers, punters and snappers grow as athletes and as people. Right now VKD is a one-on-one/ small group session operation with hopes of growing and running camps. The goal of VKD is to mold my students into the best athlete they can be. We focus on proper stretching, perfecting mechanics, and mental preparation that allows the athletes to be ready for any situation. In addition to aspiring to achieve excellence in the kicking game, VKD strives to instill a solid work ethic into all our students, not only in football; but in life.
NCS: Why did you join the National Camp Series and why do you feel it is valuable?
The National Camp Series gives young specialists a great platform to learn, compete and get recruited using statistics based rankings rather than subjective rankings.
The high level of coaching at the NCS camps are second to none. Specialists who attend NCS camps receive professional instruction and one on one attention that won't be found at other camps. I am honored to be able to work along side and learn from all the coaches in the NCS.
NCS: What are your thoughts on the KIX System? What is your feeling about objective rankings versus subjective rankings?
Objective rankings are the only way to go. It gives coaches at the next level the most reliable and realistic view of how the athletes really perform. Subjective rankings are based on opinion, so they don't give an accurate view of an athlete's performance. The KIX System is a great tool to rank athletes properly and fairly according to their grade level.
NCS: What was your high school kicking experience like?
I attended St. Francis High School in La Cañada, CA. I was a soccer player who converted to kicking footballs and coached myself for the most part. I was a punt and kickoff specialist during my varsity career. We made playoffs every year and my longest punt was 74 yards, which is still a school record.
NCS: What was the kicking scene like when you were in high school? Where there a lot of camps to attend?
There were a few camps, but the ones available were too expensive to go to on a regular basis. Most of what I learned was from watching college and professional games on TV. I didn't have a kicking coach until I attended community college, where my knowledge and technique really began to grow.
NCS: What was your college kicking experience like?
I attended Citrus College and was a part of 3 Western State Conference Championships. After junior college, I was offered a scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC where I earned kickoff and field goal duties. We had a successful season and played in a bowl game vs. Tuskegee University. It was a great experience and I am thankful for the opportunity JCSU gave me.
NCS: Did you pursue kicking at the Pro Level? If so, how was that experience?
I did try out for several arena football teams and landed a contract with the Arizona Adrenaline of the AIF in 2007.
NCS: When and why did you become a kicking coach?
In 2006, a buddy who was coaching a local high school needed help with his kicker. I went to practice to work with him and I ended up staying on the staff for the rest of the season. The team went on to win a CIF Championship. The kicker greatly improved and helped his team with field position and key field goals during the playoffs. Watching him succeed sparked a light that made me realize I wanted to continue helping young specialists get better at their craft. After a couple years I was finally able to start Vezina Kicking Dynamics.
NCS: What is the most rewarding aspect of being a kicking coach?
Knowing that I have helped contribute in some small way to my students lives is a great feeling. Being able to watch them grow to be exceptional young adults who succeed on and off the field is awesome. Being able to watch them perform at the next level is also rewarding, and I hope to be always be a source of information and friendship whenever they need me.
NCS: What is the most frustrating aspect of being a kicking coach?
Having students who come to you for help, yet seem to think they already know everything and don't listen to the instruction you've given them. It makes it very hard to teach when they don't listen and aren't open to making the changes needed to improve.
NCS: If there is one thing that you could tell aspiring kickers, punters and long snappers out there, what would it be?
You can achieve any level of success you want. All it requires is hard work that includes taking in as much information as possible and studying yourself as well as others. Figure out what works best for you then perfect it.
