Named to his current position on February 4, 2010, Schneider returned to the NFL after one year at USC.
In his first season, Seattle’s special teams were one of the top units in the NFL. Schneider’s schemes helped Leon Washington become a second-team AP All-Pro kick returner and helped the team to rank third in the NFL with an average drive start at the 30.2 yard-line. The Seahawks also excelled in kick coverage, as they ranked fifth in the NFL with opponents starting at their own 24.6 yard-line.
Washington tied for the league-lead with three kickoff return touchdowns and became the first player in NFL history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in two different seasons (2007). He became the 10th player in NFL history to return to kickoffs for touchdowns in a single game. Those two returns, 101 and 99 yards, are the longest in Seahawks history, and he became the third player in NFL history with two touchdowns of 99+ yards in the same game.
Named to his current position on February 4, 2010, Schneider returned to the NFL after one year at USC.
In his first season, Seattle’s special teams were one of the top units in the NFL. Schneider’s schemes helped Leon Washington become a second-team AP All-Pro kick returner and helped the team to rank third in the NFL with an average drive start at the 30.2 yard-line. The Seahawks also excelled in kick coverage, as they ranked fifth in the NFL with opponents starting at their own 24.6 yard-line.
Washington tied for the league-lead with three kickoff return touchdowns and became the first player in NFL history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in two different seasons (2007). He became the 10th player in NFL history to return to kickoffs for touchdowns in a single game. Those two returns, 101 and 99 yards, are the longest in Seahawks history, and he became the third player in NFL history with two touchdowns of 99+ yards in the same game.
His individual kickers won Special Teams Player of the Week awards with Olindo Mare earning Week 7 honors after connecting on a Seahawks-record five field goals vs. Arizona. Mare also set a Seahawks-record with 30 consecutive made field goals that also tied for the sixth-longest streak in NFL history. Punter Jon Ryan set a career-high with 27 punts inside the 20 and his 27:1 inside the 20 to touchback ratio led the NFL. He was named Special Teams Player of the Week 17 vs. St. Louis.
He coached special teams in Oakland for two seasons (2007-08). In both seasons, Shane Lechler led the NFL in punting and was named to the Pro Bowl.
In 2006, he handled the special teams and tight ends at Iowa State. He then moved briefly to the Air Force Academy in early 2007 before being hired by the Raiders that season.
He moved to UCLA for three seasons (2003-05), working with the linebackers and safeties in addition to the special teams. Maurice Jones-Drew led the nation in punt returns in 2005.
Schneider began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Colorado State, for three years (1994-96), working with the special teams and defense. He then was promoted as a full-time assistant for the next six seasons (1997-2002), as the special teams coordinator and coaching the tight ends.
He was a four-year (1990-93) letterwinning linebacker at Colorado State, starting three seasons and earning All-Conference first-team honors as a senior in 1993. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from Colorado State in 1994.
Schneider starred in football, basketball and track at Pomona High in Arvada (Colo.).
He was born on May 16, 1971. Schneider and his wife, Kelli, have a daughter, Jaden, and three sons, Jace, Joby, and Joel.
