Australian Kicking Academy Coaches
Tim Gleeson
Tim began his punting career in December 2010, following his high school graduation and an injury-impacted final season with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup. In 2012, he earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Wyoming, later transferring to Rutgers University in 2014. Upon graduating with an A-grade academic average, Tim went on to work on Wall Street in New York City before co-founding a Technical Recruitment firm in Phoenix, Arizona.
With over 15 years of experience in athlete development within the punting space, Tim has coached and mentored more than 150 athletes across the NFL, CFL, and collegiate levels, bringing a wealth of knowledge and insight to the development of elite specialist talent, including extensive NFL training.
INSTAGRAM: @AKApunting
TWITTER: @AKApunting
Lou Hedley
Lou joins the Australian Kicking Academy as Head of U.S. Operations.
A current NFL free agent, Lou has had an accomplished American football career, highlighted by a Top Three finish for the Ray Guy Award—the most prestigious accolade awarded to collegiate punters in the United States—and First Team All-ACC honours during his tenure at the University of Miami. He also gained professional experience in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, debuting and playing all 17 games in the 2023 season.
Lou will play an integral role in the development of Australian Kicking Academy athletes within the United States, focusing on NFL training and providing ongoing mentorship and coaching support to AKA athletes while on U.S. soil.
Keelan Crimmins
Keelan joins the Australian Kicking Academy as Pathway Director/Lead Punting Coach following a unique collegiate career spanning three major NCAA Division I programs.
Originally from Emmanuel College in Melbourne’s west, he played with the Western Jets before transitioning to American football and beginning his punting journey at Mississippi State University in 2023, competing in the SEC. Following a coaching transition, Keelan transferred to Purdue University, where he earned All-Honorable Mention Big Ten recognition before another coaching change prompted his move to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Keelan brings extensive collegiate experience, having competed in both the SEC and Big Ten, two of the premier conferences in college football. He has demonstrated the ability to execute both spiral and drop punts in-game and holds a Master’s degree in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership.
His experience and versatility make him a valuable addition to AKA.
Tom Ellard
Tom joins the Australian Kicking Academy as Director of US Recruitment/Punting coach. Following a successful Division I playing career at Western Kentucky University and Northern State University, Tom is now based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Tom plays a pivotal part in the recruitment of AKA athletes and has built many connections over the years across the NCAA collegiate footabll landscape. In addition to recruitment duties, Tommy will provide ongoing coaching, support, and technical development to Australian Kicking Academy athletes during their time in the United States.
INSTAGRAM: @tommyellard
TWITTER: @ellardtom3
Ethan Duane
Ethan joined the Australian Kicking Academy shortly after its formation and has since been a pivotal asset to the Academy and its athletes.
A graduate of St Kevin’s College in Toorak, Ethan enjoyed a distinguished collegiate career, spending three seasons at Old Dominion University in Virginia, where he set school records for gross punting in 2022. He subsequently transferred to the University at Buffalo, where his 2024 season ranks third all-time in program history for punting.
Following graduation, Ethan was signed by both the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the Edmonton Elks of the CFL, further highlighting his ability to compete at the professional level.
Ethan holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Old Dominion University and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University at Buffalo. He is currently a free agent available to NFL and CFL opportunities and continues to contribute his experience and knowledge to AKA.
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Corey Hargrave
Corey of Hargrave High Performance will lead the Strength and Conditioning (S&C) program at the Australian Kicking Academy, focusing on athlete development for aspiring players.
Widely recognized within elite AFL training circles, Corey possesses a comprehensive understanding of the rigorous physical and performance standards demanded by U.S. collegiate programs and NFL training. He will ensure that Australian Kicking Academy athletes are mentally and physically prepared to perform at a professional standard, meeting the demands of high-performance American football, as well as the expectations set by top punting coaches.
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As an industry leader in sports compression, we are dedicated to athlete development, providing essential tools for NFL training and resources tailored for punting coaches.