Kevin Stemke
Encyclopedia
Kevin Stemke is a former professional American football
punter.
Stemke was born in 1978 to Horst Stemke
, a U.S. Olympic soccer player. He graduated from Green Bay's Preble High School
in 1997, where he played quarterback, and went on to play for the University of Wisconsin Badgers
. In his freshman year at Wisconsin, Stemke set the team punting record, averaging 43.9 yards per kick. In his sophomore year, he made the first team in the Big Ten Conference
. His senior year, Stemke broke his own school record, averaging 44.5 yards per punt–also the third best in the nation. His 42.5 net yards was top in the United States, and received the first Ray Guy Award
for the nation's top punter. As of 2009, Stemke still held the Wisconsin records for highest punting average (43.5 yards) and total punting yards (10,660).
After going undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft
, Stemke was signed by the Green Bay Packers
in April 2001.
The Raiders signed Stemke in August 2002,
where he played in two games before being cut. Stemke was signed by the Dolphins in January 2003, but waived him prior to the start of the regular season. The Redskins cut Stemke in August 2004.
Stemke was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams
in November 2004 to replace Sean Landeta
. He was released before the start of the 2005 season in favor of Reggie Hodges
.
As of 2008, Stemke worked as director of business development for Replay Photos.
The Kevin Stemke Award is presented annually to the Wisconsin high school senior kicker/punter.
Stemke is married to Lizzy Fitzgerald Stemke, a former member of the United States women's national volleyball team
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter.
Stemke was born in 1978 to Horst Stemke
Horst Stemke
Horst Stemke is a retired U.S. soccer defender who was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics.-Youth:...
, a U.S. Olympic soccer player. He graduated from Green Bay's Preble High School
Preble High School
Preble High School is a public high school in the Green Bay, Wisconsin School District. The school draws students from Green Bay, Bellevue, and New Franken...
in 1997, where he played quarterback, and went on to play for the University of Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
. In his freshman year at Wisconsin, Stemke set the team punting record, averaging 43.9 yards per kick. In his sophomore year, he made the first team in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. His senior year, Stemke broke his own school record, averaging 44.5 yards per punt–also the third best in the nation. His 42.5 net yards was top in the United States, and received the first Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
for the nation's top punter. As of 2009, Stemke still held the Wisconsin records for highest punting average (43.5 yards) and total punting yards (10,660).
After going undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
, Stemke was signed by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in April 2001.
The Raiders signed Stemke in August 2002,
where he played in two games before being cut. Stemke was signed by the Dolphins in January 2003, but waived him prior to the start of the regular season. The Redskins cut Stemke in August 2004.
Stemke was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in November 2004 to replace Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
. He was released before the start of the 2005 season in favor of Reggie Hodges
Reggie Hodges
Reginald Aaron "Reggie" Hodges is an American football punter for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
As of 2008, Stemke worked as director of business development for Replay Photos.
The Kevin Stemke Award is presented annually to the Wisconsin high school senior kicker/punter.
Stemke is married to Lizzy Fitzgerald Stemke, a former member of the United States women's national volleyball team
United States women's national volleyball team
The United States women's national volleyball team represents the United States of America in international volleyball competitions and friendly games, and is governed by USA Volleyball.-Current Squad:...
.