Falcons hire military veteran Kotwica as special teams coordinator

The Atlanta Falcons have hired Ben Kotwica as the special teams coordinator, the franchise announced Wednesday afternoon.

Kotwica, a U.S. Military Academy graduate and military veteran, has spent the last five seasons with the Washington Redskins. He has 12 years of NFL coaching experience and special teams knowledge.

“Ben will provide an experienced but new voice for our special teams,” Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said. “He brings an attacking attitude to our units, and we are excited to add him to our staff.”

This past season in Washington, Kotwica’s special teams units led the league in kickoff touchback percentage (81.2 percent). He also oversaw kicker Dustin Hopkins, who converted 89.7 percent of his field goals, which ranked ninth in the NFL in 2018. In 2017, Kotwica led a kickoff unit that only allowed 18.7 yards per return, which was the second-lowest average that season.

Since 2014, Kotwica’s kickoff return squads have been at the top of the league, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns, which is tied for the third most over the five-year time span. His players have been responsible for three special teams touchdowns since 2014, which is tied for the ninth most in the NFL over the last five seasons, and his kickoff units have only allowed 22.2 yards per kickoff return, which is the 10th lowest total during that time period.

During his lone season as the Jets special teams coordinator in 2013, Kotwica’s special teams allowed 22.3 yards per kickoff return, which was 12th in the NFL. That season, he coached Nick Folk, who made 91.7 percent of his field goal attempts, which was tied for the 10th highest field goal percentage. Kotwica was promoted to special teams coordinator after spending four seasons (2009-12) as the Jets assistant special teams coach. The Jets accounted for 10 combined kick and punt return touchdowns during his time as an assistant in New York, tied for most in the AFC and tied for second-most in the NFL.

Kotwica got his NFL coaching start in 2007 when he joined the Jets staff as a defense/special teams quality control coach. Before moving his way up to the NFL, Kotwica was a defensive coordinator at USMA Prep School from 2005 to 2006.

Kotwica’s background includes his time as a decorated officer who spent eight years in the United States Army after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His military career included operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Korea, and Iraq.

Kotwica was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Aviation Branch of the Army and was selected to fly the AH-64 Apache Longbow, the world’s best attack helicopter. He was an Attack Helicopter Platoon Leader in support of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1998-2001, where he was responsible for the health and welfare of 20 soldiers.