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Steve Hoffman was added to the Dolphins’ coaching staff on February 12, 2007. He brings with him a bevy of NFL coaching experience, having served 17 years in the league, most recently as assistant special teams coach with the Atlanta Falcons in 2006.
From 1989-2004, Hoffman worked with the Dallas Cowboys’ kickers and punters, and under his guidance, kickers established 15 separate club records, including every single-season standard in team history. Punters who tutored under Hoffman, own a combined seven club marks. Following his first season with Dallas, Hoffman also held the role of quality control coach on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
During his tenure in Dallas, Hoffman gained the reputation for developing young kickers and punters. This included kickers such as Chris Boniol and Richie Cunningham, as well as punters such as John Jett and Toby Gowin. In fact, Hoffman brought in five rookie or first-year free agent kickers to Dallas in his 16 years with the team, and all five accounted for a minimum of 18 field goals in their first year with the club.
Cowboys’ kickers and punters were instrumental in helping the team to three Super Bowl titles during Hoffman’s tenure. Combined in those three seasons (1992, 1993, 1995), kickers converted 82.3 percent of their field goals (79 of 96), while punters averaged 41.6 with 60 kicks inside the 20 and just 18 touchbacks.
Prior to embarking on his NFL coaching career, Hoffman tutored the kickers and punters at the University of Miami from 1985-87, where one of his pupils was punter Jeff Feagles, who has spent the last 19 years (1988-2006) in the NFL. In his senior season of 1987, Feagles put together a career-high 40.8-yard average as he helped the Hurricanes to the national championship. In addition, Hoffman spent two springs in the Italian League, as offensive coordinator with the Bellusco Seahawks (1987) and Rho Blacknights (1988). He was a coach at Sunset High School in Miami in the fall of 1988.
While out of the NFL in 2005, Hoffman did consulting work for various NFL teams while also continuing to spend time with his own kicking and punting tutorial business. He also has been an instructor at the nationally renowned Ray Pelfrey’s kicking camps.
A native of Camden, N.J., Hoffman grew up in York, Pa. He was a member of the Dickinson (Pa.) College football squad, where he played quarterback, running back and wide receiver, while also handling the kicking and punting chores. He went on to punt one year (1983) with the Washington Federals of the USFL, while also attending NFL training camps with Washington (1981, 1983), Seattle (1984) and New Orleans (1985). Hoffman holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Dickinson and a master’s of science degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in Miami. He is married to Aline, and has a daughter, Micaela, and a son, Luca. | 