Nik Kessel joined the University of Connecticut football staff in Storrs, Connecticut, as assistant special teams coach in 2026.
Before arriving at UConn, Kessel spent two seasons at Merrimack College as special teams coordinator, run game coordinator, and linebackers coach. His special teams units produced some of the strongest results in the country. Merrimack led the nation with six blocked punts in 2025 and recorded 10 over his two seasons there. That year, the team also ranked among the national leaders in net punting, punt return defense, and kickoff return defense. Under his direction, punter Mike Ryan set the program's single-season record for average punt yardage, while kicker Carlton Thai established school single-season marks for points and field goals made.
