Emphasizing ‘A Natural Style of Kicking and Punting’®, Coach Zauner’s teaching philosophy facilitates an environment where kicking specialists develop the skills, technique, and confidence to achieve their maximum physical and mental potential. At an amateur and professional level, Coach Zauner, LLC programs and events provide a kicker, punter or snapper ‘A Specialist’s Path to PRO Football'®...Coach Zauner, LLC Mission Statement

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Evolution of PRO Development Camps


From One On One Lessons to College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Kicking Combines:

The Evolution of Coach Zauner's PRO Development Camps


Coach Gives Instruction to January Kicking Specialists in Phoenix, AZ


Coach Zauner, LLC Starts With One on One Lessons:

When I first started Coach Zauner, LLC in 2007, I was only giving One on One Kicking, Punting and Snapping Lessons. My goal was to expose as many college seniors, free agents, and PRO specialists to Coach Zauner's coaching philosophy of teaching 'A Natural Style of Kicking and Punting'.  

My coaching and teaching philosophy had led to my success early in my career as a kicking coach consultant, and later as an 11 year college and 13 year NFL Special Teams Coordinator with the Vikings, Ravens, and Cardinals. I hoped that this would also lead to success in helping young aspiring kicking, punting, and snapping specialists.

I then decided during my retirement years that I wanted to give back to kicking and the game of football that had given me so much enjoyment, satisfaction and memories.  I wanted to offer the opportunity for kicking specialists to get exposed to Coach Zauner's 'Natural Style of Kicking and Punting' to find out if it would work for them.

First, I researched kicking camps and kicking instructors. The lists went on and they seemed to be everywhere across the country. There were several names that I had not heard of as well. Also, several of these kicking instructors were still coaching specialists from the old school manual or coaching them they same way they were coached growing up. 

Although I have coached, consulted or had been associated with now 20 PRO Bowl Specialists throughout my career, most young high school and underclass college kicking specialists going through kicking camps and showcase combines had never heard of Coach Zauner.

My dream then went from coaching in the NFL to giving many younger specialists an opportunity to take their kicking games to the next level and achieve their dream goal to play professional football by using my coaching and teaching philosophy that had worked so well for me in my coaching career.

Idea for College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Kicking Combines:

In 2008, while attending the NFL Combine, I went to the NFL special teams coaches dinner to honor the Special Teams Super Bowl Coach of the year, who also pays for the meal. During this time, all of the Special Teams Coordinators and their assistant coaches talk about who's attending free agent kicking combines in the spring and who's going where. 

Houston Texans Special Teams Coordinator, Joe Marciano, one of the senior Special Teams Coaches, who was running the meeting, turned around and asked me why I wouldn't organize and run a combine because I know what NFL coaches want and look for in kicking specialists. I figured then, with the endorsement and backing of current NFL coaches, I could be successful.  After going home and consulting with my wife Michelle, we decided to move forward with our game plan.




Next, upon request from a group of NFL Special Teams Coaches, I started my College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Combines 'A Field of Dreams' to not only help professional coaches discover free agent talent but also give deserving specialists exposure to NFL, CFL, UFL Special Teams Coaches and Pro Personnel Directors.

The secret to Coach Zauner's first Free Agent Specialist's Kicking Combine was networking, contacts and good talent.  In 2009, 41 specialists qualified for the Free Agent Combine and 17 of them signed NFL and CFL contracts.  Billy Cundiff, a free agent at the time, rebooted his career in front of 26 NFL teams.  Billy is now with the Baltimore Ravens and earned 2011 PRO Bowler honors.  Billy's agent, Paul Sheehy, was the man responsible for getting Billy to attend this combine.

Success breeds more success!  Some of the specialists that were taking One on One Lessons and also doing well at my kicking combines were also signing NFL, CFL and UFL contracts.  The word was spreading amongst specialists, agents, and coaches alike.  Although each year the number of specialists trying to qualify for my combines increased, the key to success was to keep the number of participants low and the quality of specialists high for the attending NFL, CFL, and UFL Coaches and Scouts.

Why? PRO Development Camps:

Drew Butler (U. of Georgia) wins the Ray Guy Award and Rob Maver (U. of Guelph / Calgary Stampeders) becomes a First Round Pick in the Canadian Draft.  Both took One on One Lessons and attended Coach Zauner's first and trial PRO Development Camps at Macalester College in 2010.  Snapper, Morgan Cox (U. of Tennessee / Baltimore Ravens) and Kicker, Nick Novak (U. of Maryland / NFL Veteran Kicker) were also in attendance. 

The word was spreading down throughout the college and now into the high school ranks.  Thank goodness for Google and Facebook!



Morgan Cox Works Perfect Laces Drill with Drew Butler

As more college underclassmen and high school specialists began to request One on One Lessons, I needed another avenue to satisfy top college and free agent specialists in getting them their individualized lessons. While some of these specialists, families, and agents could afford One on One Lessons, there were also some that could not.

So, Coach Zauner, LLC moved forward from a 2010 trial to a series of 2011 PRO Development Kicking Camps while keeping the idea of quality instruction and not quantity of campers in mind during each kicking camp.

My PRO Development Kicking Camps now provide college and free agent specialists Coach Zauner One on One type instruction in a small group camp environment at a more affordable fee.  The three (3) day weekend camps at $575.00 included hotel accommodations and food. These PRO Development Kicking Camps now take place in different locations (Phoenix and Milwaukee) and times (January, May and July) for specific reasons.


Participants Benefit From January and May Camps in Phoenix, Arizona:


Fabrizio Scaccia (No College) Prepares For Training Camp - Signed with S.F. 49ers


Reid Forrest (Washington State) Prepares For NFL Combine - Signed with Buffalo Bills


John Gold (U. of Texas) Prepares for College Senior Combine - Signed with Seattle Seahawks


Nathan Whitaker (Stanford University) Prepares for Tryouts - Signed By Minnesota Vikings

Change in Camp Structure:

Coach Zauner's PRO Development Kicking Camps were started for two reasons.  My first goal was to give specialists a chance to work with me that could not afford One on One Kicking Punting or Snapping Lessons.  The second goal was to design a limited small group camp that would still offer specialists a lot of individual Coach Zauner coaching or a One on One coaching atmosphere, while also providing competition.

This year, I decided to divide the Punters and Snappers into one camp and Kickers and Kickoff Specialists in another in order to reinforce this concept. Also, by keeping the number of kicking specialists limited, it helps young men coming through to develop new friendships and measure the competition if they are pursuing  ‘A Specialist’s Path To PRO Football’.

COACH'S FINAL THOUGHT

Since 2007, the goal of Coach Zauner, LLC is for One on One Lessons, PRO Development Camps, College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Combines to provide kicking, punting, snapping specialists at all levels  'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football', and it seems to be working in all phases of Coach Zauner's kicking programs!




Coming Soon: Next Blog to Talk About Success of 2011 PRO Development Camps

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

One on One Lessons Produce NFL Results


Coach Zauner's One on One Lessons Produce
Results For Veteran and Rookie Kicking Specialists.

 Ten (10) 2011 Draft Class Specialists Who Took One on One Lessons
Sign NFL Contracts and Compete For Roster Spots In NFL Training Camps.

Coach Zauner's One on One Lessons, PRO Development Camps,
College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Kicking Combines Provide

 'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football'

Clint Stitser during a One on One Lesson in 2010

Approximately three years ago, as a  kicking coach Coach Zauner started his One on One Kicking, Punting and Snapping Lessons, PRO Development Camps, College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Football Kicking Combines. Each phase of Coach Zauer, LLC is specifically designed to assists specialists so they may follow their dream and have 'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football'.

My year around One on One Lessons and PRO Development Camps (January, May and July) are designed to help kicking, punting and snapping specialists refine their fundamentals and techniques to take their game to the next level. 

Coach Zauner's College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Combines in February and March were designed as my version of a 'Field of Dreams' for specialists to get exposure to NFL, CFL and UFL teams.

Coach Zauner tries to separate his teaching and coaching philosophy from other kicking coaches, camps and combines by teaching 'A Natural Style of Kicking and Punting'.  And it seems to be working for College, Free Agent and Professional Specialists.

In the last three years my One on One Kicking Punting and Snapping Lessons are helping kicking specialists take their games to the next level by making them a more consistent college, free agent or professional specialist.  The One on One Lessons have different results for each specialists.  However, the bottom line is that each specialist has improved.

Results:

Some specialist get an NFL job (ie Garrett Hartley and Brett Kern, others have gotten back into the NFL (ie Billy Cundiff and Dave Raynor), a few have improved their stats to negotiate a bigger and better contracts (ie Sebastian Janikowski). And then there are some specialists that are simply seeking some type of professional improvement in certain aspects of their kicking game (ie Rian Lindell).

Below, check out just a few current NFL kicking specialists that have used Coach Zauner's One on One Kicking, Punting and Snapping Lessons, to refine their skills and take their game to the next level.


Snapper Matt Katula One on One Lessons in 2010 and 2011


Kicker Billy Cundiff One on One Lesson and FA Combine in 2009


Kicker Josh Scobee One on One Lesson in 2010 and 2011


Kicker Jeff Reed One on One Lessons in 2011


Punter Jon Ryan One on One Lessons 2009, 2010 and 2011


Punter Tim Masthay One on One Lesson 2009


Punter Dave Zastudil One on One Lessons in 2011


Gary Anderson, Kevin Butler, Josh Scobee and Matt Katula.

                      
Former NFL Kicker, Kevin Butler and NFL Punter, Jeff Feagles Bring Their Sons Drew (U. of Georgia) and CJ (U. of North Carolina) To Scottsdale, Arizona For One on One Punting Lessons
______________________________________________________________

Ten (10) One on One Students Sign NFL Contracts


#64 Christian Yount Snaps to #24 John Gold During 2011 College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine. Both specialists received One on One Lessons to help refine their technique

Note, that some of the ten specialists also attended my PRO Development Camps or College Senior Specialist's Combine.   All ten specialists have taken One on One Kicking, Punting and Snapping Lessons during their careers and have recently signed contracts with the following NFL teams:  

Kickers:  Jake Harfman (USC) signed with Atlanta Falcons / Baltimore Ravens and Nathan Whitaker (Stanford) signed with Minnesota Vikings 

Punters:  Chad Cunningham (U. of Tennessee) signed with Tennessee Titans, Derek Epperson (Baylor) signed with Arizona Cardinals, Reid Forrest (Washington State) signed with Buffalo Bills, John Gold (U. of Texas) signed with Seattle Seahawks, and Spencer Lanning (U. of South Carolina) signed with Chicago Bears.

Snappers: Christian Yount (UCLA) signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Utility Players and Snappers: Kyle Nelson (New Mexico State) signed with New Orleans Saints and Ryan Coulson (Nevada Reno) signed with New England Patriots.


Kicker, Jake Harfman (USC) One on One Kicking and Punting Lessons, and attended the 2011 January PRO Development Camp and College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine


Kicker, Nathan Whitaker (Stanford) attended Coach Zauner's 2011 College Senior Combine, then received One on One Lessons and attended the May PRO Development Camp.


Chad Cunningham (U. of Tennessee) One on One Punting Lessons and PRO Development Camp


Derek Epperson (Baylor University) One on One Punting Lessons and PRO Development Camp


Reid Forrest (Washington State) One on One Punting Lessons and PRO Development Camp



John Gold (U. of Texas) received One on One Punting Lesson in 2010, then attend Coach Zauner's 2011 January PRO Development Camp and February College Senior Specialist's Combine.




Spencer Lanning (U. of South Carolina) One on One Punting Lessons in 2011



Christain Yount (UCLA) received One on One Snapping Lessons in 2011 and attended Coach Zauner's College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine.


Snapper and Utility Player, Kyle Nelson (New Mexico State) attended Coach Zauner's 2010 May PRO Development Camp, assisted with One on One Lessons and attended the 2011 College Senior Combine.


LB, Defensive End, Utility Player and Snapper Ryan Coulson (Nevada Reno) received One on One  Snapping Lessons in January of 2011 and attended both the January PRO Development Camp and College Senior Specialist's Football Kicking Combine.


Year Around One on One Training in Phoenix, AZ


Zach Enyeart (Washington State), Tom Mante (Yale), Fabrizio Scaccia (S.F 49ers),
Reid Forrest (Washington State) and Garrett Lindholm (Tarleton State)


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College Senior Combine Specialists To NFL


Coach Zauner's 2011 College Senior Kicking Combine
Produces Results For Seven College Senior Specialists


Coach Zauner's
One on One Lessons, PRO Development Camps,
College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Combine

'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football'

 


Coach Zauner's 2011 College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine attracted 61 College Senior Specialists.  These (17) kickers, (20) punters and (24) snappers came to Phoenix, Arizona to show Coach Zauner their NFL, CFL and UFL potential.

These 61 specialists were not invited to the 2011 NFL Combine in Indianapolis and wanted to receive exposure to NFL, CFL, and UFL Personnel Directors and Special Teams Coordinators.

Because of the NFL Lockout this year many College Senior and Free Agent Specialists did not receive the same look or exposure they deserved.  However, the following (7) Seven College Senior Specialists that did attend Coach Zauner's College Senior Combine did sign free agent contracts and started the 2011 NFL season in training camps in July.  Many of these specialists also received One on One kicking, punting and snapping lessons and attended Coach Zauner's PRO Development Camps.

The following seven kicking specialists from Coach Zauner's 2011 College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine signed contracts with these NFL teams:  

Kickers:  Jake Harfman (USC) signed with Atlanta Falcons, Nathan Whitaker (Stanford) signed with Minnesota Vikings

Punters:  John Gold (U. of Texas) signed with Seattle Seahawks and Travis Baltz (U. of Maryland) signed with Indianapolis Colts

Snapper: Christian Yount (UCLA) signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Utility Players and Snappers: Kyle Nelson (New Mexico State) signed with New Orleans Saints and Ryan Coulson (Nevada Reno) signed with the New England Patriots.


Kicker, Jake Harfman (USC) participated in Coach Zauner's One on One Lessons, and attended the 2011 January PRO Development Camp and February College Senior Specialist's Combine


Kicker, Nathan Whitaker (Stanford) attended Coach Zauner's 2011 College Senior Specialist's Combine, then received One on One Kicking Lessons & attended the May PRO Development Camp.


Punter, John Gold (U. of Texas) received One on One Punting Lessons in 2010, then attend Coach Zauner's 2011 January PRO Development Camp and 2011 College Senior Specialist's Combine.


Punter, Travis Baltz (U. of Maryland) attended Coach Zauner's 2011 College Senior Combine.



Snapper, Christian Yount (UCLA) received One on One Snapping Lessons in 2011 and attended Coach Zauner's College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine.


Snapper and Utility Player, Kyle Nelson (New Mexico State) attended Coach Zauner's 2010 May PRO Development Camp, assisted with One on One Snapping Lessons and attended the 2011 College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine.


LB, Defensive End, Utility Player and Snapper Ryan Coulson (Nevada Reno) received One on One Snapping Lessons in January of 2011 and attended both the January PRO Development Camp and College Senior Specialist's Kicking Combine.


 
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