Why 3-time Super Bowl champion Stephen Gostkowski joined Lipscomb Academy football staff
Stephen Gostkowski was part of three Super Bowl wins as a kicker with the New England Patriots.
He's now in Nashville where he will be a special teams assistant at Lipscomb Academy for first-year coach Kevin Mawae.
Mawae said the Mustangs' special teams coordinator Brian Shulman had a relationship with Gostkowski that led to him coming to Lipscomb Academy. Shulman was a punter at Auburn and played the 1989-90 seasons for the Green Bay Packers.
"(Shulman) had already been around here a couple of years with Coach Trent (Dilfer)," Mawae told The Tennessean. "Steve was around in the area. I never knew him. I knew who he was. After I convinced coach Shulman to join us full time, he was like, 'Do you mind if Steve Gostkowski helps out, because he has another set of eyes for special teams?' I said absolutely, if he wants to be a part of it."
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Gostkowski brings 15 seasons in the NFL. He was with the Patriots from 2006-19 and spent the 2020 season with the Titans. He was in six Super Bowls and won championships in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Gostkowski, who played his college ball at Memphis, was picked in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He led the NFL in scoring from 2012-15 and left New England as the franchise's all-time scorer. He played in four Pro Bowls.
"He just wanted to be part of the program and be around the game," Mawae said. "Of course, his credentials come without saying. He's one of the best that's played as a kicker. It was just a no-brainer for me to have him join us.
"Him doing it and the excitement in which he does it and the kids respect him."
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Stephen Gostkowski joined Lipscomb Academy's football staff. Here's why
