NCS: Tell us about your kicking business.
Special Teams Academy was founded in 2011 and is based in Upstate New York. The company has a private turf field with NFL uprights and a highly-skilled strength coach on staff. When clients or coaches request it, we travel to them and 3-5 times a year we perform school special teams camps, clinics or lessons in Phoenix, Arizona and Ontario, Canada.
NCS: Why did you join the National Camp Series and why do you feel it is valuable?
With 30+ years of experience in kicking as a player and coach I was looking to team up with a company that would provide national exposure to my camps. NCS (National Camp Series) and Michael Husted provide an aggressive camp platform while keeping the camp sizes lower which provides better one-on-one coaching.
 |
| NCS Buffalo Kickoff Charting |
NCS: What are your thoughts on the Kicking Index? What is your feeling about objective rankings
KIX (Kicking Index) is based in physics and I am always telling my athletes that our entire special teams positions are based in physics. So the KIX helps us as coaches and athletes develop an outline for us to reach our goals based from where we see ourselves in the index. By using this tool we can help manage and track an athlete’s physical and mental progress in camps and during their season.
NCS: What was your high school kicking experience like?
I joined my variety football team as a sophomore after playing two years of soccer. Unfortunately, during my first year of playing with the team, we extended our losing streak to 31 games. So the next season we had two new coaches with no football coaching experience. Coach Ralph Dewey gave me seven field goals attempts in two seasons. We were 4-7; I made a Section V record-long field goal of 52 yards my second year.
 |
| NCS Buffalo Campers Warming Up |
NCS: What was the kicking scene like when you were in high school? Were there a lot of camps to attend?
Coach Dewey gave me a mailer for Mike Farley's kicking camp in River Falls, Wisconsin in the summer between my junior and senior year. I was unaware of any local camps so this was the only camp I attended. The head kicking coach for the camp was, Edward "Doc" Storey. Doc changed my life. I asked him a question during our first meeting and he worked with me for three straight days to develop my skill. I went on to compete against 200-plus kickers and won the last man standing competition.
NCS: What was your college kicking experience like?
I had a serous back injury at 18 years old while working on our family farm. I attended East Carolina University as a 23-year old walk on. My two kicking coaches were GA's and helped me develop my punting skills. I was named a starter as a sophomore. My back continued to bother me so I had to stop punting.
 |
| NCS Buffalo Snapper Charting |
NCS: Did you pursue kicking at the Pro Level? If so, how was that experience?
After college I took almost a year to hit the weight room, trying to strength my back and look for a pro try out. Shortly after that I had two major back surgeries.
NCS: When and why did you become a kicking coach?
After leaving ECU I returned home to Upstate New York with a three-fold purpose:
- Impact local athletes like Doc and college coaches did for me.
- Educate coaches on how to develop their special teams.
- Provide year-round serves to help athletes reach their full potential.
 |
| Coach Sam Watts' personal practice field in his back yard with NFL uprights |
NCS: What is the most rewarding aspect of being a kicking coach?
Receiving a text like this one:
“We made it home just fine. Thank you for everything, I am so glad you came in to Matt's and our lives, God bless.”
This text is from a mom who has cancer and had a 5-hour drive ahead of her the morning of our Buffalo camp. Special Teams Academy paid for a hotel room so they could drive up the night before.
 |
| Coach Sam Watts instructing at the Buffalo Bills Indoor Practice Facility |
NCS: What is the most frustrating aspect of being a kicking coach?
The lack of coaches who don’t:
- Take time to attend special team clinics
- Provide a healthy amount of practice time for live reps in practice.
- Help promote their specialist to attend camps.
Do something every day to improve yourself and your talent - hard work really does pay off!
