The spring schedule has been announced and fall practice is underway for the Coyotes, who have 14 more practices from now until the end of October. In that span, we will catch up with position coaches to learn more about their units. We start the series with special teams coordinator Rob Aurich, who is preparing for his third season with the unit.
 
Returning Starters
Brady Schutt, Sr., Orange City, Iowa
Mason Lorber, Sr., New London, Iowa
Dalton Godfrey, Jr., Cedar Falls, Iowa
 
Returners
Bryan Clements, Jr., Corona, Calif.
Joe Mather, R-Fr., St. Paul, Minn.
Ben Conrad, R-Fr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
 
Newcomer
Reed Shea, Fr., Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
 
Special teams has been a storyline early in both the college and professional fall seasons and it's reassuring that the Coyotes boast three players with all-MVFC accolades in punter Brady Schutt, kicker Mason Lorber and snapper Dalton Godfrey. Schutt is a preseason all-American and expectations will be high for all three come spring.
 
"What's great about our unit is we're able to maintain full speed practice and rep count without having to have a big group of people together," said Aurich. "It's an area of the team that has stayed on track when compared to a traditional schedule, and when they get a chance to show it, they have been executing."
 
One of the bigger changes in 2020-21 for every position group revolves around the newcomers. Traditionally, they arrive prior to the start of the first semester, dive head first into four weeks of fall camp and follow the team, mostly as redshirts limited to at most four games of action, through an 11-game schedule.
 
This year is different.
 
Newcomers are developing now in a "spring" format. They are adjusting to college and building their minds and bodies in a way never before seen ahead of their first full season. Plus, they can compete in every game in the spring without losing a year of eligibility.
 
"The well is certainly deeper because of it," said Aurich. "We have six months to develop them, teach them our scheme and build their bodies up a little bit. We expect a handful to make an impact right away.
 
"We want to make sure our players are competing to win every drill we put them in, because these drills go into our evaluation of who we can play on these kicking units. Michael Mansaray, Nate Valcarcel and Chase Lopez keep showing up in these drills early on. They are extremely well coached coming out of high school, have an aptitude for the game and are competing hard."
 
As for goals for the unit, Aurich notes that his field goal and punt teams were top in the Valley a year ago, but he wants to get better in kickoff coverage where the Coyotes were third and in punt return where they finished sixth. Good health for Kody Case and Carter Bell can help with the latter.
 
One thing sure to pay dividends is an all-hands-on-deck approach to special teams. Assistant coaches on staff are offering ideas and drill work within their areas to improve technique and make the units better.
 
"There are no closed doors," said Aurich. "If they see a way to improve something, we look at it. I would say technique within the scheme has been our biggest area of improvement."