Coach Zauner's Blog...: Matt Gay University of Utah Kicker

Monday, September 18, 2017

Matt Gay (Utah) and Jace Christmann (Mississippi State)

Coach Zauner's ONE on ONE Kicking Lessons Produce Results for Soccer Players.

Coach Zauner Teaches 'A Natural Style of Kicking and Punting'

Jace Christmann and Matt Gay - ONE on ONE Coach Zauner Students

About five years ago I first met Jace Christmann and in April of 2017 I met Matt Gay. Both of these young men were excellent soccer players in high school. Both wanted to be football kickers.

Jace was a freshman at Houston Memorial High School in Houston Texas and Matt was a junior at Utah Valley University playing on the soccer team.

Coach Zauner a former NFL Special Team Coach with the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals and current kicking consultant is known for his philosophy of teaching and coaching a 'Natural Style of Kicking and Punting'.

Matt Gay During A ONE on ONE Kicking Lesson With Coach Zauner

Coach Zauner Teaches and Coaches 'A Natural Style of Kicking and Punting'

Jace Christmann During A ONE on ONE Kicking Lesson With Coach Zauner

During his 40 plus years as a coach and consultant he has now coached, consulted and trained over 120 plus NFL and CFL kicking, punting and snapping specialists, including 25 PRO Bowlers.

Today as a kicking consultant I really enjoy working with young men at any level. It doesn't matter if their high school, college, free agent or professional specialists as long as they are looking to get better. As a teacher and coach my gratification comes from the improvement and success my students or players achieve.

Matt Gay and Jace Christmann are a perfect examples of ONE on ONE students that have put a big smile on my face because of their success so far this year. These two soccer players have embraced Coach Zauner's Natural Style of Kicking.

Matt was a walk-on this year at the University of Utah for Head Coach Kyle Whittingham and is presently after three games 11 for 11 or 100% on his field goal attempts.

Jace was a preferred walk-on last year at Mississippi State for Head Coach Dan Mullen. Jace for the last month was in a battle with three other kickers for the starting spot. He started 4th on the depth chart the opening week of training camp.

He has worded hard and moved up the depth chart each week. He has stayed confident and matured each week as a person and player. He has competed, stayed focused and believed in his technique.

This past weekend Jace got his first start against LSU. I am happy to say Jace was 3 for 3 on his field goal attempts and perfect on extra points.

Congrats to both Jace Christmann and Matt Gay for their success so far this season.

Jace Christmann - Mississippi State Kicker

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Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Matt Gay University of Utah Kicker

Matt Gay University of Utah - Soccer Player To Football Kicker

Matt Gay April 2017 ONE on ONE Kicking Lesson with Coach Zauner

In March of 2017 I received a call from a football coach that said he knew of a soccer player who wanted to be a football kicker. He mentioned that this young man had had a big leg but needed to refine his football kicking skills and technique.

Matt Gay - Utah Valley University Soccer Player

Next, later in March, Matt gave me a call to discuss options. He had played two years of soccer at Utah Valley University and was hoping to play football some where this fall but had no college or Universities interested. He had no college football kicking experience, no video and no contacts.

With the clock running, Matt headed to Arizona on April 14 and 15th for a ONE on ONE Kicking Lesson. In just a couple of warm up kicks I immediately noticed this young man had a big leg but lacked consistency because of technique.

Coach Zauner teaches and coaches 'A Natural Style of Kicking and Punting'. As I explained to Matt on the phone, many soccer players that want to make a transition from soccer to football like the Natural Style Kicking Technique I coach.

I told Matt that it would take maybe a month or two to make the change from a more mechanical style of kicking he learned or was taught and using to Coach Zauner's Natural Style of Kicking.

Matt was a quick study. In two days he made some major improvements. He liked what he learned and needed to work on changing his muscle memory to a Natural Style of Kicking.

University of Utah Head Coach - Kyle Whittingham

Later in May, Matt a attended a summer kicking camp at the University of Utah. The University of Utah wasn't really looking for a scholarship kicker but was putting feelers out for a walk-on. Needless to say Matt impressed the coaches running the camp.

In June I called Coach Whittingham and mentioned that a kicker I had worked with was attending one of his summer camps and he should take a good look at him.

Coach Zauner with Chase Dominguez (Left) and Andy Phillips (Right)

For three years I had worked and trained the University of Utah's previous kicker, Andy Phillips. Andy was not only a Lou Groza finalist but after the 2017 NFL Draft signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Bears.

After summer workouts in June and July he impressed the coaches enough to be invited to fall camp.

This past weekend he suited up for his first football game when the University of Utah hosted the University of North Dakota. He was not the starting kicker. However, when the starter missed his first attempt Matt was called on.

The rest is history. Matt was 3 for 3 on his field goal attempts. He made kicks of 33, 32 and 49 yards.

If your a high school, college or free agent soccer player that thinks he has football kicking skills, then check out Coach Zauner's kicking programs. It worked for Matt and it may work for you.

I want to congratulate Matt on his recent success. Also, I want to wish Kyle Whittingham, Head Coach at the University of Utah and one of my former players at BYU in 1978 to 1980 the best of luck this upcoming season.

In closing I would like to say as a teacher and coach, my gratification comes from seeing my students specialists or players achieve success.

Matt's success makes me very happy. Check out 'The Power of Coaching" video below!