University of Georgia Athletics
Staff Directory
Kirk Benedict
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Email:
Kirk Benedict was named the Bulldogs’ Special Teams Coordinator in February 2024 after serving two years as the team’s Special Teams Analyst.
Benedict’s special teams unit shined as brightly as ever in his fourth year at Georgia en route to the team’s second straight Southeastern Conference title and second consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff. Punter Brett Thorson collected the Bulldogs’ second Ray Guy Award, snapper Beau Gardner clinched the first Patrick Mannelly Award in school history and kicker Peyton Woodring was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award for the third time in his career. Thorson also earned Walter Camp and USA Today All-America First Team honors after averaging 45.5 yards on 2,094 punts, including forcing 25 fair catches and sending 15 balls that traveled 50 or more yards. Georgia finished fourth nationally in Net Punting (43.5) and gave up the country’s fifth fewest punt return yards (18).
Gardner snapped on 72 of 73 Woodring’s field goal attempts or PATs and all of Thorson’s 52 punts and was named an AFCA First Team All-American. Woodring finished the year 17 for 19 on field goals and drilled three that traveled 50 or more yards. The All-SEC Second Team selection stands fifth on UGA’s all-time list for PATs made (173) and seventh for points scored kicking (350).
Benedict’s unit excelled throughout the Bulldogs’ run to their 2024 SEC championship and their fourth appearance in the CFP since 2017. Thorson was named a Ray Guy Award finalist and USA Today Second Team All-American after averaging 47.6 yards (No. 4 nationally, No. 2 in UGA history) and forcing 14 fair catches. Georgia finished the year with a 43.5 Net Punting average (No. 5 nationally), giving up only 4.1 ypg. The Bulldogs’ kicking game was just as impressive as Woodring drilled 91 percent of his field goals (No. 12 nationally, No. 2 in the SEC) after connecting on 21 of 23 tries, including a career-long 55 yarder in the win over No. 14 Clemson, to be named a Lou Groza semifinalist yet again.
Adding to the strength of Benedict’s group was the fact that Georgia was the only team to have a 2024 semifinalist for the Ray Guy (Thorson), Lou Groza (Woodring) and Patrick Mannelly (Gardner) awards.
Benedict helped guide Woodring to his first Lou Groza Award semifinalist honor in 2023 as the true freshman connected on 21 of 25 field goals, including four of five from 40-49 yards, and all 71 PATs to set the Bulldog freshman record for most points kicking. His 134 points ranks third on Georgia’s all-time PK scoring list for a season and he ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 9.6 ppg (top freshman, No. 3 PK overall). Thorson ended the Bulldogs’ 13-1 season with a 43.8 average thanks to a performance that included 21 fair catches forced.
The Bulldogs punt return defense was also the only unit in the country to allow zero punt returns during 2023. Benedict is part of a coaching and support staff that led the 15-0 Bulldogs to the 2022 CFP National Championship with a 65-7 victory over TCU in the title game following a semifinal win over Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal, 42-21.
In 2022, PK Jack Podlesny set the UGA record for most points scores in a season with 151 (26 FGs, 73 PATs). He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC by the AP and the SEC Coaches. Podlesny also set the record for most PATs in a CFP Championship Game with eight. Thorson also earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Benedict joined Duke’s coaching staff in June 2014 and worked with the Blue Devils until he arrived in Athens. He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and the Recruiting Coordinator while aiding the defensive staff.
Before his time as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Duke, Benedict spent three seasons (2018-20) as an assistant coach mentoring the special teams unit and assisting on defense. In 2016 and 2017, he served as a graduate assistant coach while working primarily with the offense and the entire special teams operation. Prior to that, he served as an operations assistant working with the special teams units during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
A native of Fairfax, Va., Benedict was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League fullback at Davidson College before graduating with a degree in political science in 2010. He was tabbed the program’s offensive MVP as a senior in 2009.
Following his graduation from Davidson, Benedict was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and graduated from the Army Reconnaissance Course in 2011. He was stationed in Germany from 2011-14, serving as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Benedict also served two deployments to Afghanistan (2011, 2013-14) before exiting the army at the rank of captain.
Benedict is married to the former Molly Battle and they have two daughters, Nora and Gwen, and a son, Kirk Jr.
Benedict’s special teams unit shined as brightly as ever in his fourth year at Georgia en route to the team’s second straight Southeastern Conference title and second consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff. Punter Brett Thorson collected the Bulldogs’ second Ray Guy Award, snapper Beau Gardner clinched the first Patrick Mannelly Award in school history and kicker Peyton Woodring was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award for the third time in his career. Thorson also earned Walter Camp and USA Today All-America First Team honors after averaging 45.5 yards on 2,094 punts, including forcing 25 fair catches and sending 15 balls that traveled 50 or more yards. Georgia finished fourth nationally in Net Punting (43.5) and gave up the country’s fifth fewest punt return yards (18).
Gardner snapped on 72 of 73 Woodring’s field goal attempts or PATs and all of Thorson’s 52 punts and was named an AFCA First Team All-American. Woodring finished the year 17 for 19 on field goals and drilled three that traveled 50 or more yards. The All-SEC Second Team selection stands fifth on UGA’s all-time list for PATs made (173) and seventh for points scored kicking (350).
Benedict’s unit excelled throughout the Bulldogs’ run to their 2024 SEC championship and their fourth appearance in the CFP since 2017. Thorson was named a Ray Guy Award finalist and USA Today Second Team All-American after averaging 47.6 yards (No. 4 nationally, No. 2 in UGA history) and forcing 14 fair catches. Georgia finished the year with a 43.5 Net Punting average (No. 5 nationally), giving up only 4.1 ypg. The Bulldogs’ kicking game was just as impressive as Woodring drilled 91 percent of his field goals (No. 12 nationally, No. 2 in the SEC) after connecting on 21 of 23 tries, including a career-long 55 yarder in the win over No. 14 Clemson, to be named a Lou Groza semifinalist yet again.
Adding to the strength of Benedict’s group was the fact that Georgia was the only team to have a 2024 semifinalist for the Ray Guy (Thorson), Lou Groza (Woodring) and Patrick Mannelly (Gardner) awards.
Benedict helped guide Woodring to his first Lou Groza Award semifinalist honor in 2023 as the true freshman connected on 21 of 25 field goals, including four of five from 40-49 yards, and all 71 PATs to set the Bulldog freshman record for most points kicking. His 134 points ranks third on Georgia’s all-time PK scoring list for a season and he ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 9.6 ppg (top freshman, No. 3 PK overall). Thorson ended the Bulldogs’ 13-1 season with a 43.8 average thanks to a performance that included 21 fair catches forced.
The Bulldogs punt return defense was also the only unit in the country to allow zero punt returns during 2023. Benedict is part of a coaching and support staff that led the 15-0 Bulldogs to the 2022 CFP National Championship with a 65-7 victory over TCU in the title game following a semifinal win over Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal, 42-21.
In 2022, PK Jack Podlesny set the UGA record for most points scores in a season with 151 (26 FGs, 73 PATs). He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC by the AP and the SEC Coaches. Podlesny also set the record for most PATs in a CFP Championship Game with eight. Thorson also earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Benedict joined Duke’s coaching staff in June 2014 and worked with the Blue Devils until he arrived in Athens. He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and the Recruiting Coordinator while aiding the defensive staff.
Before his time as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Duke, Benedict spent three seasons (2018-20) as an assistant coach mentoring the special teams unit and assisting on defense. In 2016 and 2017, he served as a graduate assistant coach while working primarily with the offense and the entire special teams operation. Prior to that, he served as an operations assistant working with the special teams units during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
A native of Fairfax, Va., Benedict was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League fullback at Davidson College before graduating with a degree in political science in 2010. He was tabbed the program’s offensive MVP as a senior in 2009.
Following his graduation from Davidson, Benedict was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and graduated from the Army Reconnaissance Course in 2011. He was stationed in Germany from 2011-14, serving as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Benedict also served two deployments to Afghanistan (2011, 2013-14) before exiting the army at the rank of captain.
Benedict is married to the former Molly Battle and they have two daughters, Nora and Gwen, and a son, Kirk Jr.
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