Stanford football focused on special teams during the second week of its 2026 spring practice sessions, according to an April 12 update from the program. The team is halfway through its four-week spring schedule and has placed emphasis on the development and cohesion of its specialists.
The importance of special teams lies in their impact on field position, scoring opportunities, and overall game management. With experienced players returning and a new coordinator at the helm, Stanford aims to strengthen this critical phase ahead of the upcoming season.
Nate Kaczor joined as Stanford’s new special teams coordinator for 2026, bringing extensive experience from both the National Football League and his recent tenure at Kansas State. Tavita Pritchard said at Kaczor’s arrival, “Coach Kaczor is a treasure trove of football knowledge, experience, and aptitude.” Pritchard also praised Kaczor’s ability to connect with people and build trust within the team.
Veteran kicker Emmet Kenney welcomed Kaczor’s NFL background: “It’s been great having Coach Kaczor come in, especially with his wealth of NFL experience…he’s shown us what it’s like to be an NFL-level specialist in the way you need to train and go about your business the right way.”
Stanford returns most of its specialists this year: Kenney enters his sixth season alongside senior punter Aidan Flintoft; long snappers Peyton Warford and Alejandro Chavez are also back. Only one underclassman is among six rostered specialists. Kenney said this experience is valuable: “We must be one of the oldest special teams units in the country…that’s a weapon for us.”
Kaczor said that familiarity allows them to focus less on basic adjustments: “The learning curve…we don’t have to cover as much ground with that learning curve. So that’s definitely a plus.”
Chavez emphasized group chemistry: “Camaraderie is super important…if you don’t know each other in the operation or know each other’s rhythm, it’s not going to work.”
Kenney contributed two game-winning field goals last season—one securing Stanford’s first Atlantic Coast Conference win at Syracuse and another clinching an upset over then-No. 19 Louisville.
Flintoft ranks second all-time for punting average at Stanford (43.02 yards) behind Jake Bailey; he could surpass Bailey in total punts and punt yardage this year. Flintoft credited former interim head coach Frank Reich for teaching him consistency under pressure.
Kaczor noted that players are eager learners who work hard but benefit from balancing intensity with enjoyment: “I want them to learn how to channel that…and kind of free their minds up a little bit when we can.”
Warford explained their current focus is improving daily consistency ahead of their opener against Hawai’i later this year. Kaczor stressed technique as foundational before installing more complex schemes: “Technique really enhances assignments…how you do your technique…is going to make us better.”
Pritchard has highlighted strength across all three phases—offense, defense, special teams—as key for reaching team goals in 2026.
