Cowboys. He was honored by his NFL special teams coaching peers for the first time in 1991, being named Special Teams Coach of the Year, when the Cowboys: Led the NFC in special teams effectiveness and ranked second in the NFL behind the Oakland Raiders. Led the league in special teams touchdowns (3) and average kickoff return (21.7 yards). Placed a player in the top three in both punt and kickoff return averages in the same season for the first time in team history. In addition, Alexander Wright's 102 yard kickoff return against the Atlanta Falcons and Kelvin Martin's 85 yard punt return against the Philadelphia Eagles were NFL season-bests. Kicker Ken Willis tied a club record with 27 field goals and set another with four 50-yarders. Punter Mike Saxon finished tied for fourth in the NFL with a career best 36.8 yard net average. Blocked three punts, returning one for a touchdown against the Houston Oilers. Recovered an onside kick against the Washington Redskins, forced a safety and recovered two punts fumbled by opponents. Avezzano won his second NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year award in 1993 when his units helped the Cowboys finish as the only team in the NFL to rank in the Top 10 in the league in all four major kicking game categories. In 1998, the Cowboys were one of only two teams in the NFL to be ranked in the top 12 in all four major kicking game categories, including leading the league in kickoff coverage (18.5), earning Avezzano his third Special Teams Coach of the Year award. After the firing of Chan Gailey in 2000, he was considered as one of the candidates to take over the head coaching duties of the Dallas Cowboys, which eventually went to Dave Campo. In 2002, Avezzano served as both the special teams coach of the Cowboys and as the head coach of the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. Avezzano was not retained by the Cowboys when Bill Parcells became head coach in 2003. Dallas Desperados (AFL) While still working for the Dallas Cowboys, he was named the head coach of the inaugural Dallas Desperados team, also owned by Jerry Jones. He remained in that capacity until resigning before the 2004 season, after he accepted an assistant job with the Oakland Raiders. He posted a record of 17–13, and guided the club to two