Quick-hitters: Notre Dame special teams coordinator Marty Biagi on punt block, coaching philosophies

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman immediately targeted Marty Biagi to replace arguably his best assistant from 2022. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason left March 4 to take the same job with the Indianapolis Colts. Biagi, Ole Miss’ special teams coordinator last year, agreed to take the job about two days later and return to a program where he spent the 2016 season as an analyst.

He has a high standard to meet. Mason turned the Irish’s special teams units into a punt-block machine. Biagi, though, brings nine years of Division I special teams coordinator experience and was a punter and kicker at Marshall. He had less than three weeks between his hiring and the start of spring practice. He met with reporters Saturday for his lone media session. Here are some highlights.

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On his approach to coaching specialists

“At the end of the day, I’m not trying to reinvent you all the way. I’m just bringing you in for an auto tune-up, see what works and get you to perform. There’s no point in me telling a story of, ‘When I kicked, I did this.’ It’s more using my background to make you successful at snapping, punting and kicking.”

On emphasizing blocked kicks like Brian Mason

“It’s an energy and a mindset. We both – whether we have different mantras – it’s still an energy. It starts at the top when you have a head coach who has the buy-in, it makes it so much easier because you’re not having to sell and recreate. It’s, ‘Here’s the standard and here’s what we need to do,’ and the head coach is giving you the freedom to attack. I’m going to be the same way. I’m big on attacking and big on creating the energy you need to make game-changing plays.”

On if he endorses specialists using private kicking trainers

“I don’t know if I’d say endorsing. It’s like when you go from a middle school to high school, you still revert back to my favorite middle school teacher. Coaches are still going to be involved. I more try and make sure that when I’m teaching them, I want them to know why they’re doing something, not because I said so.

“Right, wrong or indifferent, I try to tell our 3-year-old son the same thing. There’s a point where I will lay the line, but at the same time, I want him to learn why and the main reason is because when I’m gone, I’m not on the field to coach him up when we’re kicking the field goal. He has to trust he’s getting the right education so he can apply it.”

On punter Bryce McFerson

“He’s really working on fine-tuning his technique to be more consistent. His leg strength is clearly there, very similar if not even stronger than (former Notre Dame punter) Tyler Newsome, someone I coached before. Now we’re trying to make sure he can do it consistently. Just like anything else, when we get those indy (position periods), we’re working on specific drills where he can perform at the right moment.”

On anticipating opponents being wary of Notre Dame’s punt block

“I don’t know what other teams are doing. You love that there’s an identity that’s created. You’d rather have an identity than not. If anywhere, it helps create an energy when you take the field, like, ‘Hey, we’re here.’”

On conclusions from studying starter participation on special teams

“Normally you’re looking at – when you watch some of the top programs or top special teams – you’re going to be seeing anywhere from five to eight starters who are going to play on certain phases. Using the word “starter” – he may not be the starting base personnel, but he’s the starting nickel. It’s very fluid. I look at it more like if they’re playing a lot of reps on offense or defense. Trying to get the best players on the field to contribute, as well as guys who have a specialized role.

“There might be someone who’s really good blocking as a wide receiver, and that might equate to a kickoff return or punt return technique. You’ve already mastered this, and it’s no different than having to block on the perimeter. Really trying to figure out – especially in a role where I’m not coaching other positions – how I can maximize and specialize certain guys.”

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On how his specialist background helps him

“It’s pretty uncommon. I like to think it’s a competitive advantage, especially in recruiting, because like anybody, you want to go where you’re coached where there’s a legacy. I’m by no means trying to say I’m a legacy, but being able to show consistency of performance that when I get a guy in, they can perform. I treat it like anything. Just like wide receivers are doing indy the first five periods, quarterbacks are doing indy, defensive backs are doing indy, it’s really no different in my mind that they deserve to be coached and know the techniques.”

On the mental aspect of kicking and punting

“Normally I’ll use our sports psychologist on campus where I’m at. Big on the mental aspect of it. A lot of people think kicking and punting is equivalent to soccer. But the best things you can equate it to are golf and closing pitchers. Those are the two main mindsets you have to come in and perform in this exact type of performance.”