Joe DeCamillis
Special Teams Coordinator
Joe DeCamillis is in his second season as the Jaguars' special teams coordinator. DeCamillis, who is known as one of NFL's top special teams coaches, has 20 years of NFL coaching experience and he has spent the past 15 seasons as a NFL special teams coach.
The Jaguars ranked third in the NFL in 2007 in opponents average starting position after a kickoff (25.8) and fourth in fewest opponent kickoff returns of 20-plus yards (31). The Jaguars tied for first in the NFL by allowing only one punt return of 20-plus yards. Rookie Chad Nkang set a single-season franchise record with 30 special teams tackles while rookie Adam Podlesh assumed the role as the Jaguars punter to start the season.
A player on DeCamillis' special teams has returned either a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown in 13 of the last 14 seasons. Maurice Jones-Drew had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score at New Orleans in 2007.
DeCamillis, 42, previously directed the special teams for the Atlanta Falcons from 1997-2006 with the last three seasons as special teams coordinator. In DeCamillis' tenure, the Falcons punt coverage team allowed an NFL-low 6.1 yards per punt return and only one return for a touchdown. In addition, the Falcons had the third-most touchbacks (126), the second-most kickoff returns for touchdowns (8) and second-most total return touchdowns (13) during that span.
In 2006, the Falcons led the NFL as opponents had an average starting position of the 23.6-yard line. They ranked fourth in the NFL with 47 kickoff returns of 20-plus yards and second in allowing only 26 kickoff returns of 20-plus yards.
In 2005, the Falcons were one of four teams to be ranked in the NFL's top 10 in both kickoff coverage (1st) and punt coverage (8th). PK Todd Peterson made 18 consecutive field goals and had the second-highest percentage in franchise history. PR Allen Rossum finished second in the NFL in punt returns in 2004 (12.4) and was named to the Pro Bowl. The Falcons special teams ranked second in the NFL for kickoff and punt return units in 2003.
Jay Feely set the franchise record for most field goals (32) and most points (138) in a season in 2002 while punter Chris Mohr led the NFL in net punting average (38.7) in the same season. DeCamillis' punt return unit in 1999 had only 26 punts returned against them for 119 yards, which was the lowest in the NFL and 10th-lowest in the league since 1978. His 1998 unit surrendered only 112 punt return yards, the seventh-lowest in the NFL in a single season since 1978.
DeCamillis spent four seasons (1993-96) as special teams coach with the New York Giants under Dan Reeves. In 1996 with the Giants, his special teams led the NFL with 32 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and the punt return unit ranked sixth in the NFL (11.4 avg.) with two touchdowns scored.
DeCamillis started his coaching career in Denver as defensive quality control and assistant special teams coach from 1988-92.
DeCamillis was an all-state quarterback and wrestler at Arvada (Co.) High School and went on to become an All-America wrestler at Wyoming. DeCamillis and his wife, Dana, have two daughters, Caitlin and Ashley.
COACHING BACKGROUND: Denver Broncos 1988-92, New York Giants 1993-96, Atlanta Falcons 1997-2006, Jacksonville Jaguars 2007-08
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