Kicking Coach & Special Teams Consultant
As a three sport athlete in high school David had the opportunity to pursue basketball, baseball or football at the collegiate level. David decided to play baseball (1B, OF) and football (TE) at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. A dislocated ankle deterred any plans to play as a freshman. While rehabbing his ankle David became proficient at punting and decided to focus his attention on that position for the remainder of his college career. After a year at SMS, David transferred to Lindenwood University where he was able to receive coaching from a former All-American punter, Mike Gardner.
A future in professional football was never one of David’s goals; professional baseball, however, was in his sight. It was at a regional workout for the Atlanta Braves in 1999 when David picked up a football someone was throwing and punted it; as luck so has it, a scout for the St. Louis Rams was there with his son, the rest as they say, is history.
David began fine tuning his skills and with the coaching of WGHS grad and former NFL coach Hank Kuhlmann c/o ’54, Ray Pelfrey, Kelly Goodburn and Louie Aguiar. He signed an NFL contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 before a career ending injury forced him to the sideline in 2006. Since the injury, his focus has been on coaching the kicking game through kicking lessons and kicking camps. David has coached with former NFL kickers Louie Aguiar and Michael Husted at their annual Pro Camp since 2006. As a specialist coach with Elite Football Academy, Husted Kicking, and a partner with the National Camp Series, Coach Brader shares his experience, evaluates, and guides athletes at kicking camps nationally.
David has coached numerous area kickers and punters and been a part of their success earning All-Conference, All District, All- State and All-Metro honors. He has also had the privilege of coaching collegiate All-Americans and NFL specialists.
