Special Team's Coordinator Robby Discher has been selected to attend the American Football Coaches Association's 2021 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, the AFCA announced on Monday morning.
Discher was selected to attend the prestigious program, which is aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession, from a field of more than 150 highly-qualified coaches.
At the helm of Louisiana's special team's efforts, Discher has seen the emergence of two of the nation's top return men in Chris Smith and Eric Garror. Smith has two kick return touchdowns this year, tied for the most in the nation, while ranking second with 572 total kick return yards, while Garror is one of 18 players with a punt return touchdown and ranks 12th nationally with 156 punt-return yards.
Junior Rhys Byrns has also been stellar as a punter for Louisiana, averaging 43.9 yards per boot. On the year, Byrns has pinned 13 balls inside the 20 and sent four over 50 yards, including a career-high 74-yard punt at UAB on Oct. 23.
Placekicker Kenneth Almendares has hit all four of his field goal attempts this year, while Nate Snyder made a name for himself after hitting a 53-yard game-winning field goal against Georgia Southern on Sept. 26.
Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.