Football
Svoboda, Drew
Drew Svoboda
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach, Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends
- Email:
- UNTFootball@unt.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Stephen F. Austin, 1999
Drew Svoboda joined the UNT Football staff as Associate Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator in December 2022. In March 2024, he added leadership of the tight ends.
In 2024, the UNT Special Teams units excelled. The combined six units ranked second in the American Conference according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) special teams’ grades. They were first in the American Athletic Conference for composite ranking average of special teams’ units.
The punt unit ranked second nationally by only allowing eight total return yards on 47 punts. The kickoff coverage unit ranked ninth nationally and led the AAC allowing only 16 yards per kickoff return. The punt return unit was one of the most explosive in the conference executing five returns of over 20 yards which was tied for second in The American. The Mean Green also led the conference with two blocked punts on the year and were successful on all of their PAT attempts (55 of 55) for the second consecutive season.
In 2023, Svoboda’s special teams units were among the top in the country which earned him a Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the year nomination. The combined six units ranked first in The American and 18th nationally for overall special teams grade according to PFF. The kickoff coverage unit ranked led all FBS programs allowing only 11.2 yards per return. The punt coverage unit was also one of the best in the country allowing only 19 total punt return yards on the season. The combination of kickoff and punt coverage ranked second in the history of the FBS football allowing only 75 total return yards on 119 kickoffs/punts. Kicker Noah Rauschenberg earned multiple all-conference honors while posting one of the best seasons for a kicker in program history. He hit 16 of his 19 field goal attempts and made good on all 46 of his extra-points. Punter Sawyer Evans and Snapper JP Hadley were also named to the Phil Steele All-Conference team for their performance as UNT led the conference in net punt with a 40.7 average.
Prior to UNT, Svoboda spent two seasons at The University of Alabama working under Nick Saban. In 2022, he served as the senior special assistant for Special Teams and Offense as the Crimson Tide finished 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl.
As the Senior Special Assistant, Svoboda was actively involved in a multitude of aspects of the Crimson Tide program, including offensive and special teams game and practice prep as well as statistical analytics and trends. He aided the Crimson Tides recruiting and evaluation efforts that earned them the top recruiting class in the country.
He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends coach in 2021, a season in which the Crimson Tide were crowned SEC champions and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff national championship game vs the University of Georgia.
While coaching tight ends, Svoboda's unit accounted for 11 touchdowns and helped the Crimson Tide finish seventh in the country in both total offense and passing offense while finishing sixth nationally in scoring. Junior Cam Latu had 26 receptions for 410 yards and set the Alabama record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with eight.
As the Special Teams Coordinator, Svoboda led some of the best units in the country. The Tide's special teams units ranked first nationally in points scored with 164, including four touchdowns. UA tied for second nationally with two touchdowns on kickoffs returns.
Alabama also finished tied for second nationally in blocked punts with three, including two for touchdowns while ranking second in the SEC with 23 field goals made, fourth in kickoff return average (25.33 ypg) and fifth in kickoff coverage defense.
Junior transfer Jameson Williams proved to be one of the best kickoff returners in the nation, averaging 35.2 yards per return including a 100-yard touchdown. He is the only player in Alabama history to return two kicks for scores in the same game, housing two against Southern Mississippi.
Will Reichard led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in scoring and was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top placekicker. The Tide's punting unit was one of the most efficient in the country as one of only eight teams who did not surrender a touchback with seven punts downed inside the 10-yard line.
In 2021, Svoboda was hired by the University of Memphis as the special teams coordinator. Svoboda coached the Tigers special teams units during spring practice before joining the Crimson Tide.
Prior to Memphis, Svoboda spent three seasons at Rice University in Houston. Serving multiple roles as both the special teams coordinator and with the fullbacks.
At Rice in 2020, the Owls played five games in a pandemic shortened season with the special teams still producing at a high level. Svoboda's units ranked 14th nationally in total special teams grades by Pro Football Focus (PFF).
In 2019, the Svoboda led Special Teams ranked 4th nationally from Pro Football Focus (PFF). Rice was second in the conference and 18th nationally in ESPN's specialty teams efficiency rankings and their 63.1 rating was the third highest in program history. Faced with the challenge of replacing the 2018 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year and future NFL All Pro Punter Jack Fox, Svoboda's replacement stepped up to the challenge. Former walk-on Chris Barnes earned second team all-conference honors while averaging 44.8 yard per punt. They were second in C-USA in both net punt and punt return defense, finishing 17th and 14th nationally in both categories. Future NFL WR, Austin Trammell ranked fourth in C-USA in punt returns while long snapper Cameron Riddle earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors.
In 2018, Svoboda coached the Rice running backs to a few record setting performances. True freshman Juma Otoviano set the freshman single game rushing record in a 224-yard performance in the season finale. Senior Emmanuel Esukpa topped 100 yards in two of the first three games, including 173 yards in the season opener, the most by an Owl in an opener since the Doak Walker award winning Trevor Cobb had 191 in 1991. Fellow senior Austin Walter concluded his career joining Cobb as the only players in school history to have 1,500 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving and 1,000 kick return yards in their career before signing as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.
Prior to moving on to the college ranks, Svoboda served as the Head Coach and Athletic Director at Klein Collins High School located in the Greater Houston area for 10 seasons. He inherited a program that was 5-25 the previous 3 seasons prior to his arrival (2008) and led them to a 30-5 mark the next 3 years with back to back district championships. One of the biggest turnarounds in Texas High School football history.
A multiple time Texas High School Coach of the Year Winner, he posted a 93-24 record (.795 winning percentage) and led the Tigers to 5 district crowns along with three undefeated regular seasons while leading the Tigers to the State playoffs in eight of 10 seasons.
Inducted into the Greater Houston Football Coaches Hall of Honor in 2022, Svoboda has received numerous coaching honors, including being named Houston Texans NFL High School Coach of the Year, Dave Campbells Texas football 6A pre-season Coach of the Year, Vype Magazine Coach of the Year, 5-time 6A District coach of the year and the National Football Foundation's Houston TD Club Coach of the year finalist five times.
While at Klein Collins, Svoboda coached multiple players who reached the NFL such as Mike Goodson, Demetri Goodson, Matt Allen, Jordan Thomas, Frankie Griffin and Isaiah Spiller. He also sent over 70 players on to play collegiately during his time at Klein Collins.
Svoboda served terms as both the President and Vice President of the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association which include over 150 high schools and was also on the Board of Directors for the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), serving as one of the Region Five Directors. He was also a Chairman for the selection committee of the THSCA all-star game. For his efforts, he was elected by his peers to be the head coach in the Bayou Bowl All Star game.
Svoboda began his coaching career at the high school level in the Greater Houston area as an offensive assistant/offensive coordinator at Caney Creek, Klein Collins and Oak Ridge High School.
Svoboda was a tight end and fullback and two-time Academic All-Southland Conference at Stephen F. Austin. He helped lead the Lumberjacks to the 1999 Southland Conference title. He is a 1995 graduate of Tomball high school, where he lettered in football and track.
Svoboda and his wife, Kristi, are the parents of two children, Austyn and Jack.
Coaching History
2000: Caney Creek High, assistant coach/tight ends
2001-04: Klein Collins High, assistant head coach/running backs/receivers
2005-07: Oak Ridge High, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
2008-17: Klein Collins High, head coach/campus athletic director
2018: Rice, running backs
2019-20: Rice, special teams coordinator/fullbacks
2021: Memphis, special teams coordinator
2021: Alabama, special teams coordinator/tight ends
2022: Alabama, senior special assistant for special teams/offense
2023: UNT, associate head coach/special teams coordinator
2024-: UNT, associate head coach/special teams coordinator/tight ends
In 2024, the UNT Special Teams units excelled. The combined six units ranked second in the American Conference according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) special teams’ grades. They were first in the American Athletic Conference for composite ranking average of special teams’ units.
The punt unit ranked second nationally by only allowing eight total return yards on 47 punts. The kickoff coverage unit ranked ninth nationally and led the AAC allowing only 16 yards per kickoff return. The punt return unit was one of the most explosive in the conference executing five returns of over 20 yards which was tied for second in The American. The Mean Green also led the conference with two blocked punts on the year and were successful on all of their PAT attempts (55 of 55) for the second consecutive season.
In 2023, Svoboda’s special teams units were among the top in the country which earned him a Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the year nomination. The combined six units ranked first in The American and 18th nationally for overall special teams grade according to PFF. The kickoff coverage unit ranked led all FBS programs allowing only 11.2 yards per return. The punt coverage unit was also one of the best in the country allowing only 19 total punt return yards on the season. The combination of kickoff and punt coverage ranked second in the history of the FBS football allowing only 75 total return yards on 119 kickoffs/punts. Kicker Noah Rauschenberg earned multiple all-conference honors while posting one of the best seasons for a kicker in program history. He hit 16 of his 19 field goal attempts and made good on all 46 of his extra-points. Punter Sawyer Evans and Snapper JP Hadley were also named to the Phil Steele All-Conference team for their performance as UNT led the conference in net punt with a 40.7 average.
Prior to UNT, Svoboda spent two seasons at The University of Alabama working under Nick Saban. In 2022, he served as the senior special assistant for Special Teams and Offense as the Crimson Tide finished 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl.
As the Senior Special Assistant, Svoboda was actively involved in a multitude of aspects of the Crimson Tide program, including offensive and special teams game and practice prep as well as statistical analytics and trends. He aided the Crimson Tides recruiting and evaluation efforts that earned them the top recruiting class in the country.
He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends coach in 2021, a season in which the Crimson Tide were crowned SEC champions and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff national championship game vs the University of Georgia.
While coaching tight ends, Svoboda's unit accounted for 11 touchdowns and helped the Crimson Tide finish seventh in the country in both total offense and passing offense while finishing sixth nationally in scoring. Junior Cam Latu had 26 receptions for 410 yards and set the Alabama record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with eight.
As the Special Teams Coordinator, Svoboda led some of the best units in the country. The Tide's special teams units ranked first nationally in points scored with 164, including four touchdowns. UA tied for second nationally with two touchdowns on kickoffs returns.
Alabama also finished tied for second nationally in blocked punts with three, including two for touchdowns while ranking second in the SEC with 23 field goals made, fourth in kickoff return average (25.33 ypg) and fifth in kickoff coverage defense.
Junior transfer Jameson Williams proved to be one of the best kickoff returners in the nation, averaging 35.2 yards per return including a 100-yard touchdown. He is the only player in Alabama history to return two kicks for scores in the same game, housing two against Southern Mississippi.
Will Reichard led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in scoring and was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top placekicker. The Tide's punting unit was one of the most efficient in the country as one of only eight teams who did not surrender a touchback with seven punts downed inside the 10-yard line.
In 2021, Svoboda was hired by the University of Memphis as the special teams coordinator. Svoboda coached the Tigers special teams units during spring practice before joining the Crimson Tide.
Prior to Memphis, Svoboda spent three seasons at Rice University in Houston. Serving multiple roles as both the special teams coordinator and with the fullbacks.
At Rice in 2020, the Owls played five games in a pandemic shortened season with the special teams still producing at a high level. Svoboda's units ranked 14th nationally in total special teams grades by Pro Football Focus (PFF).
In 2019, the Svoboda led Special Teams ranked 4th nationally from Pro Football Focus (PFF). Rice was second in the conference and 18th nationally in ESPN's specialty teams efficiency rankings and their 63.1 rating was the third highest in program history. Faced with the challenge of replacing the 2018 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year and future NFL All Pro Punter Jack Fox, Svoboda's replacement stepped up to the challenge. Former walk-on Chris Barnes earned second team all-conference honors while averaging 44.8 yard per punt. They were second in C-USA in both net punt and punt return defense, finishing 17th and 14th nationally in both categories. Future NFL WR, Austin Trammell ranked fourth in C-USA in punt returns while long snapper Cameron Riddle earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors.
In 2018, Svoboda coached the Rice running backs to a few record setting performances. True freshman Juma Otoviano set the freshman single game rushing record in a 224-yard performance in the season finale. Senior Emmanuel Esukpa topped 100 yards in two of the first three games, including 173 yards in the season opener, the most by an Owl in an opener since the Doak Walker award winning Trevor Cobb had 191 in 1991. Fellow senior Austin Walter concluded his career joining Cobb as the only players in school history to have 1,500 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving and 1,000 kick return yards in their career before signing as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.
Prior to moving on to the college ranks, Svoboda served as the Head Coach and Athletic Director at Klein Collins High School located in the Greater Houston area for 10 seasons. He inherited a program that was 5-25 the previous 3 seasons prior to his arrival (2008) and led them to a 30-5 mark the next 3 years with back to back district championships. One of the biggest turnarounds in Texas High School football history.
A multiple time Texas High School Coach of the Year Winner, he posted a 93-24 record (.795 winning percentage) and led the Tigers to 5 district crowns along with three undefeated regular seasons while leading the Tigers to the State playoffs in eight of 10 seasons.
Inducted into the Greater Houston Football Coaches Hall of Honor in 2022, Svoboda has received numerous coaching honors, including being named Houston Texans NFL High School Coach of the Year, Dave Campbells Texas football 6A pre-season Coach of the Year, Vype Magazine Coach of the Year, 5-time 6A District coach of the year and the National Football Foundation's Houston TD Club Coach of the year finalist five times.
While at Klein Collins, Svoboda coached multiple players who reached the NFL such as Mike Goodson, Demetri Goodson, Matt Allen, Jordan Thomas, Frankie Griffin and Isaiah Spiller. He also sent over 70 players on to play collegiately during his time at Klein Collins.
Svoboda served terms as both the President and Vice President of the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association which include over 150 high schools and was also on the Board of Directors for the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA), serving as one of the Region Five Directors. He was also a Chairman for the selection committee of the THSCA all-star game. For his efforts, he was elected by his peers to be the head coach in the Bayou Bowl All Star game.
Svoboda began his coaching career at the high school level in the Greater Houston area as an offensive assistant/offensive coordinator at Caney Creek, Klein Collins and Oak Ridge High School.
Svoboda was a tight end and fullback and two-time Academic All-Southland Conference at Stephen F. Austin. He helped lead the Lumberjacks to the 1999 Southland Conference title. He is a 1995 graduate of Tomball high school, where he lettered in football and track.
Svoboda and his wife, Kristi, are the parents of two children, Austyn and Jack.
Coaching History
2000: Caney Creek High, assistant coach/tight ends
2001-04: Klein Collins High, assistant head coach/running backs/receivers
2005-07: Oak Ridge High, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
2008-17: Klein Collins High, head coach/campus athletic director
2018: Rice, running backs
2019-20: Rice, special teams coordinator/fullbacks
2021: Memphis, special teams coordinator
2021: Alabama, special teams coordinator/tight ends
2022: Alabama, senior special assistant for special teams/offense
2023: UNT, associate head coach/special teams coordinator
2024-: UNT, associate head coach/special teams coordinator/tight ends
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