Coach Joe Gardener spent years as a professional rugby player with the Portugal National Team and pro clubs in Japan, France, and Portugal, earning top-scorer accolades for multiple rugby clubs. He came to the US with the goal of becoming an NFL punter. Joe played one season at UW-Whitewater and then had multiple NFL tryouts in the following years. He joined the Kohl's staff full-time in 2015 and now provides an in-depth knowledge and experience on how Australian punting techniques translate to American football.
Coach Gardener has also become a great kicking coach who along with Coach Radke does much of the behind the scenes work at Kohl's. He is getting married in the summer of 2017 to his long-time girlfriend Natalie.
Coach Gardener gives Oakland Raiders' Marquette King tips on the Australian-style punt
Coach Gardener playing for the Portugal National Rugby Team
At the 2023 NFL Combine, Kohl's athletes will make up a record 11 of the 12 specialists invited by the league to perform for NFL teams. Varying in their experience with Kohl's Kicking, this will be the deepest roster of Kohl's athletes to perform at one NFL Combine
On National Signing Day, our entire staff wants to congratulate the Kohl's Class of 2023 kickers, punters, and long snappers on their offers, commitments, and signings.
