The Daily News profiles decorated Army veteran and current Jets assistant Ben Kowitca.
In March of 2005, Kotwica returned to the United States and decided to pursue coaching. After two seasons as the defensive coordinator at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, he was recommended by Sutton to Eric Mangini, who hired him as a quality control defense/special teams coach for the Jets.
It didn't take Kotwica long to make an impression on new Jets coach Rex Ryan, either.
Ryan, whose father served in the Korean War, thinks his new coach is unflappable.
"He's going to be a star in this league as a coach. We have him working with the defense also and with special teams and you talk about a guy who's going to be rising through the ranks," Ryan said. "I knew I wanted him on my staff. I wanted him in several roles. He's actually the only coach we have out there with a whistle."
Blowing a whistle and hearing the thuds of football pads crashing against each other certainly beats the horrifying sounds of bullets ripping through the metal of a helicopter.