Former Aggie and NFL placekicker Roy Gerela begins his second season with NMSU as the Aggies’ kickers and tight ends coach.
In 2006 Gerela took over the Aggie kicking game and guided punter Jared Kaufman to a lead the WAC in net punting with a 38.3 yards per punt average, which was also good for sixth in the nation. Kaufman was also on the Ray Guy Watch List at the end of the season.
After a nine-year absence from NMSU, Gerela rejoined the Aggies in 2005 as the qualify control coordinator, Gerela oversaw video operations, the interaction between the staff and alumni, student admission, recruiting tours and the walk-on program. Gerela was also a graduate assistant and oversaw the Aggies kicking game. He helped guide punter Brad Evans who finished third in the conference in yards per punt with 41.8, ranking him sixth all-time in punting average in a single-season. His 3,345 punting yards ranks second all-time for a single-season. Evans finished 32nd in the nation in punt average and was the first Aggie punter since Andy Kohl in 1999 to average over 41 yards per punt.
The NMSU graduate spent the nine years as an assistant high school football coach at Gadsden High School (1997-2002) and Hatch High School (2003 & 04).
Gerela’s first stint with the Aggies came back from 1991-96 as he coached tight ends and special teams for NMSU under Jim Hess.
Gerela spent 11 seasons in the NFL, playing with Houston, Pittsburgh and San Dingo. He is most famous for his time with the Steelers, playing on three Super Bowl Championship teams and winning seven divisional titles.
A native of Powell River, British Columbia, Gerela first came to NMSU in 1965 as a fullback on the freshman team. He started at linebacker and safety on the ?66 club, but also became the starting punter, averaging 40.2 yards per punt. He was the team’s punting leader in 1967-68 and played baseball for head coach Presley Askew, hitting .302 as a catcher his senior year.
Gerela was the first soccer-style kicker to play for the Aggies and was selected to play in the 1969 College All-Star game where the All-Stars fell to the defending world champion New York Jets.
Born in Sarreil, Alberta, Gerela attended high school in Rockville, Md., and Honolulu, Hawaii. Gerela is single and lives in Las Cruces.
Gerela File
Personal
Full Name: Roy Gerela
Birthdate/Place: April 4, 1947, Sarrail, Alberta, Canada
Education
? New Mexico State University, 1969
Playing Career
? New Mexico State, 1965-69
? Houston Oiler, 1969-70
? Pittsburgh Steelers, 1971-78
? San Diego Chargers, 79
Coaching Career
? Assistant Coach - New Mexico State, 1991-96
? Assistant Coach - Gadsden High School, 1997-02
? Assistant Coach - Hatch High School, 2003-04
? Graduate Assistant - New Mexico State, 2005
