UISRM graduate Keith Duncan (BS 2020, MA 2021, pictured right, center) is widely recognized for major moments in his legendary Iowa football placekicking career. Faithful Hawkeye fans will recall these top performances from Keith’s time with the Hawkeyes: 

Upon leaving Iowa City with two degrees and many memories, Keith has leveraged the knowledge and skills he acquired through UISRM classes with his successes on the field to launch Keith Duncan Kicking, an entity based in central Iowa which offers kicking and punting instruction to young athletes through group camps, private lessons, and customized training programs. During his first year running the business, his relational strengths also put him in a unique position to be a change agent in society. 

As Keith got to know Johnston High School kicker Will Safris, a difficult loss that shaped Will’s family had an immediate impact on Keith. In 2001, the Safris family lost a newborn daughter, Emma, and Keith was moved by how they channeled their emotions in the years following such trying circumstances to be at the forefront of Count the Kicks—a proactive public health program established by five Iowa mothers that teaches expectant parents and maternal healthcare providers about the importance of tracking a baby’s movements in the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent stillbirth. 

Keith drew on other times during his athletic career when he had chances to be an influencer off the field and began brainstorming ways that he could leverage his skill set and football network to bring attention to the Healthy Birth Day, Inc. nonprofit co-founded by Kate Safris, Will’s mother. Keith felt compelled to create a link between football players pursuing their kicking potential with the Count the Kicks cause, and conversations about fundraising with Kate ensued. When a 2007 radio spot that featured Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz advocating for stillbirth prevention resurfaced, the path forward seemed clear: Every Kick Counts—a campaign for Count the Kicks—was born.   

Since Keith and Count the Kicks formalized their collaboration with Keith as the Every Kick Counts coordinator, an assembly of kickers, punters, and long snappers have generated over $350,000 to support ongoing educational efforts. More than 100 high school kickers collected charitable pledges through Every Kick Counts last year, and involvement extends to over 35 states today. Count the Kicks messaging has resulted in saved babies nationwide, and the stillbirth rate in Iowa is down more than 30% since the importance of tracking an unborn baby’s movements has been emphasized. 

When reflecting on why being a University of Iowa student has been instrumental in Keith’s journey and how his learning has shaped his association with Count the Kicks, he points to the UISRM graduate program for molding his abilities as an entrepreneur. In addition, he recognizes how his undergraduate guided field experiences with Kids on Course and Fans First helped him discover avenues for pursuing his passions while serving people in the community. Now, Keith supervises UISRM interns as they provide support for Count the Kicks, and he applauds the dedication the students have shown in streamlining operations in a nonprofit setting. 

Every Kick Counts was the focus of Ashley Stinocher’s (ex. BS 2025, pictured right) Summer 2023 internship, and Keith praises her ability to organize events, conduct outreach to high school athletes, and create an organic community through social media on behalf of the organization. Looking back on her contributions to Count the Kicks and Every Kick Counts, Ashley can see how the experience aligned seamlessly with her career path by providing practical opportunities at integrating social responsibility with sports marketing. Her work on initiatives in the nonprofit arena fostered a deeper understanding of the importance of regular community engagement. 

My internship helped me grow professionally by broadening my perspective on how sports can be powerful change and equipping me with the tools to communicate that message effectively in my future career.

Ashley Stinocher (ex. BS 2025)

Ashley continues to build her résumé in her current role as Equipment Manager with Iowa Football and Engagement Assistant for the Hawkeye Legacy program, and she is one of several examples of the ties between the Hawks and Every Kick Counts. Football student-athlete Zach Kluver (BS 2022) was the first of several UISRM majors to earn independent field experience credit for work with the nonprofit in 2022. Tory Taylor (BS 2024)—who is in his rookie season punting for the Chicago Bears—followed suit in 2023, and Keith points to the public service announcement that Tory recorded for elevating awareness about Every Kick Counts. Summer 2024 Keith Duncan Kicking intern Ty Nissen (ex. BS 2025) has continued the connection with the Hawkeyes. He is entering his second year on the gridiron with the special teams unit, and all the Iowa football kickers and punters are part of the Every Kick Counts squad that will make a difference during the 2024 season.  

The mission of Count the Kicks is becoming known nationally with the passage of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, and the legislation shows that teamwork is powerful. Every Kick Counts recently has increased its visibility, as well, by expanding beyond football to include other sports and activities through the GameChangers platform for athletes, artists, and creators. Ambassadors in college athletics and the professional space are going to assist in fundraising for Count the Kicks while highlighting the educational component with new audiences moving forward, and Keith is grateful to be able to use his sport business talents to demonstrate that “every kick counts” during the most highly anticipated times.