Nik Kessel

Biography

Assistant Coach Nik Kessel comes to Storrs to serve on Coach Candle's staff as assistant special teams coach in 2026. Kessel coached two seasons at Merrimack College, filing the roles of special teams coordinator, run game coordinator, and linebackers coach. Kessel coached a Merrimack squad to leading the country with six blocked punts in 2025 and 10 over the last two seasons. Under Kessel’s direction, Merrimack punter Mike Ryan set a single-season program record in average punt yardage (42.57). Kessel guided kicker Carlton Thai to a single season program record in points (76), field goals made (17) and a weekly Gold Helmet award. Kessel’s special team unit ranked 16th in net punting (39.90 yards), 30th in punt return defense (5.81 yards) and 43rd in kickoff return defense. In the 2024 season, Kessel was named FCS National Special Teams Coordinator of the Week. Kessel coached Jermaine Corbett who led the nation in kickoff return average (36.1) to First Team All-American honors from Walter Camp, Stats Perform, and Football Central. Kessel also had a player lead the country in blocked punts (3 by Kendal Sims), and allowed zero blocked kicks — finishing #1 in the country in that category. His special teams also ranked #2 nationally in blocked punts (4), #7 in blocked kicks (5), and #8 in team kickoff return average (25.46). Meanwhile, Merrimack’s defense finished the season ranked #12 in total defense, #16 in passing yards allowed, and inside the top 30 nationally in defensive t