Football
Benedict, Kirk
Kirk Benedict
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Email:
- kirkb@sports.uga.edu
Kirk Benedict was named the Bulldogs’ Special Teams Coordinator in February 2024 after serving two years as the team’s Special Teams Analyst.
Benedict helped guide PK Peyton Woodring to Lou Groza Award semifinalist honors in 2023 as the true freshman connected on 21 of 25 field goals, including four of five from 40-49 yards, and all 71 PATs to set the Bulldog freshman record for most points kicking. His 134 points ranks third on Georgia’s all-time PK scoring list for a season and he ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 9.6 points per game (top freshman, No. 3 PK overall). Sophomore P Brett Thorson ended the Bulldogs’ 13-1 season with a 43.8 average thanks to a performance that included 21 fair catches forced.
The Bulldogs punt return defense was also the only unit in the country to allow zero punt returns during 2023.
Benedict is part of a coaching and support staff that led the 15-0 Bulldogs to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship with a 65-7 victory over TCU in the title game following a semifinal win over Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal, 42-21.
In 2022, PK Jack Podlesny set the UGA record for most points scores in a season with 151 (26 FGs, 73 PATs). He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC by the AP and the SEC Coaches. Podlesny also set the record for most PATs in a CFP Championship Game with eight. Thorson also earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Benedict joined Duke’s coaching staff in June 2014 and worked with the Blue Devils until he arrived in Athens. He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and the Recruiting Coordinator while aiding the defensive staff.
Before his time as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator, Benedict spent three seasons (2018-20) as an assistant coach mentoring the special teams unit and assisting on defense. In 2016 and 2017, he served as a graduate assistant coach while working primarily with the offense and the entire special teams operation. Prior to that, he served as an operations assistant working with the special teams units during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
A native of Fairfax, Va., Benedict was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League fullback at Davidson College before graduating with a degree in political science in 2010. He was tabbed the program’s offensive MVP as a senior in 2009.
Following his graduation from Davidson, Benedict was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and graduated from the Army Reconnaissance Course in 2011. He was stationed in Germany from 2011-14, serving as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Benedict also served two deployments to Afghanistan (2011, 2013-14) before exiting the army at the rank of captain.
Benedict is married to the former Molly Battle and they have a daughter, Nora, and a son, Kirk Jr.
Benedict helped guide PK Peyton Woodring to Lou Groza Award semifinalist honors in 2023 as the true freshman connected on 21 of 25 field goals, including four of five from 40-49 yards, and all 71 PATs to set the Bulldog freshman record for most points kicking. His 134 points ranks third on Georgia’s all-time PK scoring list for a season and he ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 9.6 points per game (top freshman, No. 3 PK overall). Sophomore P Brett Thorson ended the Bulldogs’ 13-1 season with a 43.8 average thanks to a performance that included 21 fair catches forced.
The Bulldogs punt return defense was also the only unit in the country to allow zero punt returns during 2023.
Benedict is part of a coaching and support staff that led the 15-0 Bulldogs to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship with a 65-7 victory over TCU in the title game following a semifinal win over Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal, 42-21.
In 2022, PK Jack Podlesny set the UGA record for most points scores in a season with 151 (26 FGs, 73 PATs). He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC by the AP and the SEC Coaches. Podlesny also set the record for most PATs in a CFP Championship Game with eight. Thorson also earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Benedict joined Duke’s coaching staff in June 2014 and worked with the Blue Devils until he arrived in Athens. He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and the Recruiting Coordinator while aiding the defensive staff.
Before his time as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator, Benedict spent three seasons (2018-20) as an assistant coach mentoring the special teams unit and assisting on defense. In 2016 and 2017, he served as a graduate assistant coach while working primarily with the offense and the entire special teams operation. Prior to that, he served as an operations assistant working with the special teams units during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
A native of Fairfax, Va., Benedict was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League fullback at Davidson College before graduating with a degree in political science in 2010. He was tabbed the program’s offensive MVP as a senior in 2009.
Following his graduation from Davidson, Benedict was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and graduated from the Army Reconnaissance Course in 2011. He was stationed in Germany from 2011-14, serving as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Benedict also served two deployments to Afghanistan (2011, 2013-14) before exiting the army at the rank of captain.
Benedict is married to the former Molly Battle and they have a daughter, Nora, and a son, Kirk Jr.
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