Army West Point Athletics
Saturnio Named Finalist for FootballScoop Special Teams Coach of the Year
January 25, 2021 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Special teams coordinator Sean Saturnio was named one of three finalists for FootballScoop Special Teams Coach of the Year, it was announced today.
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Saturnio turned around the Black Knights' special teams unit in 2020, making it one of the nation's best as they set a program-record seven blocked kicks on the year. Those seven blocked kicks also led the nation, and the Black Knights also tied for the national lead with three blocked punts. Ryan Duran led the country individually with three blocked kicks.
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The team also finished ninth nationally in special teams efficiency according to ESPN.com.
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Tyrell Robinson had a breakout year for the Black Knights as a freshman, ranking 21st nationally with 7.7 yards per punt return on the season.
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The punting unit excelled as well under Saturnio, as Ray Guy Award watch lister Zach Harding  punted 41 times through 11 games, good for a career-high 1774 yards, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. He had 12 punts of 50+ yards and 17 of those were downed within the 20 yard line, including his final eight-straight punts of the regular season as he was named to the 2020 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team.
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The kicking game was also strong, with Landon Salyers and Quinn Maretzki good for 7-of-10 field goal attempts on the season. Salyers handled kickoff duties and amassed 3,290 yards on 56 kick offs, with 18 going for touchbacks. He was also 3-for-4 in made field goals, including a career-long 43-yard attempt vs. Abilene Christian. The senior was 23-for-26 on extra points. Freshman Maretzki was 4-for-6 in field goal attempts on the year, including a career-long field goal of 40 yards vs. Navy, his second made field goal of the day. He was also a perfect 15-for-15 in extra points.
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The special teams unit ranked 30th in kickoff return defense, holding opponents to 18.39 yards per return.
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Now in their 13th year, the FootballScoop Coach of the Year awards are the only coaching honors where coaches must be nominated by one of their peers in order to received consideration and where each year's winner is chosen by the prior winners of that award.
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Winners will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
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Saturnio turned around the Black Knights' special teams unit in 2020, making it one of the nation's best as they set a program-record seven blocked kicks on the year. Those seven blocked kicks also led the nation, and the Black Knights also tied for the national lead with three blocked punts. Ryan Duran led the country individually with three blocked kicks.
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The team also finished ninth nationally in special teams efficiency according to ESPN.com.
Â
Tyrell Robinson had a breakout year for the Black Knights as a freshman, ranking 21st nationally with 7.7 yards per punt return on the season.
Â
The punting unit excelled as well under Saturnio, as Ray Guy Award watch lister Zach Harding  punted 41 times through 11 games, good for a career-high 1774 yards, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. He had 12 punts of 50+ yards and 17 of those were downed within the 20 yard line, including his final eight-straight punts of the regular season as he was named to the 2020 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team.
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The kicking game was also strong, with Landon Salyers and Quinn Maretzki good for 7-of-10 field goal attempts on the season. Salyers handled kickoff duties and amassed 3,290 yards on 56 kick offs, with 18 going for touchbacks. He was also 3-for-4 in made field goals, including a career-long 43-yard attempt vs. Abilene Christian. The senior was 23-for-26 on extra points. Freshman Maretzki was 4-for-6 in field goal attempts on the year, including a career-long field goal of 40 yards vs. Navy, his second made field goal of the day. He was also a perfect 15-for-15 in extra points.
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The special teams unit ranked 30th in kickoff return defense, holding opponents to 18.39 yards per return.
Â
Now in their 13th year, the FootballScoop Coach of the Year awards are the only coaching honors where coaches must be nominated by one of their peers in order to received consideration and where each year's winner is chosen by the prior winners of that award.
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Winners will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
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