UCLA head coach Chip Kelly announced the hiring of Jason Kaufusi as outside linebackers coach. Kaufusi, a standout player at the University of Utah, joins the Bruins staff after serving the previous two campaigns as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada.
This past year, Nevada advanced to a bowl game for the first time in three seasons with Kaufusi coaching the defensive line. Korey Rush earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors at defensive line while ranking second in the league in tackles for loss per game (1.3) last season. In his first year, Kaufusi coached Malik Reed to first-team All-Mountain West accolades. Reed led the Mountain West with eight sacks on the year and was eighth overall with 10.0 tackles for loss. Under Kaufusi's guidance, the Nevada defensive line combined for 15.5 of the team's 23 sacks on the year.
Prior to joining the staff at Nevada, Kaufusi coached for five years at Weber State and served as the team's defensive coordinator for the 2016 season. That 2016 Weber State team finished 7-5 overall and advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the first time in seven years. Under Kaufusi's leadership, the Wildcats led the Big Sky in passing defense in 2016, allowing just 193.5 yards per game. The Wildcats also had five players on defense earn Big Sky All-Conference honors.
In the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Kaufusi was in charge of the Weber State defensive ends after being hired in December of 2013. The Wildcats led the Big Sky in total defense in 2015 and finished with a 6-5 overall record and 5-3 mark in Big Sky play, WSU's first winning season in five years. Kaufusi had previously spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Weber State as an assistant coach in charge of the defensive ends.
In between the two stints at Weber State, Kaufusi worked as a defensive graduate assistant coach at BYU during the 2012 and 2013 seasons for head coach Bronco Mendenhall. He also served as the football team's academic advisor in 2013. The Cougars advanced to bowl games in both seasons and finished with a pair of 8-5 records.
In 2009, Kaufusi spent time as an administrative assistant at his alma mater, the University of Utah, under head coach Kyle Whittingham, where he assisted with the cornerbacks. The Utah secondary ranked 14th in the nation in pass defense that season, while the Ute defense was ranked 19th nationally.
Kaufusi also coached four seasons (2004-07) as an assistant at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City. He worked with the defensive line for the Colts and oversaw academics and assisted with strength and conditioning for the team.
Kaufusi signed to play football at Utah in February 1997, but left to serve a LDS Church mission to Panama before beginning his collegiate career. He joined the Utes for the 2000 season, under head coach Ron McBride and then-defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham, and was voted the Co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year after totaling 63 tackles. He also earned honorable mention all-conference honors with eight sacks while starting nine games. Kaufusi went on to earn first-team All-Mountain West honors in both 2001 and 2002. As a senior in 2003, he was a pre-season All-America candidate and was on the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists.
A native of Salt Lake City, Kaufusi attended East High School where, as a senior in 1996, he was named the Utah 4A Player of the Year and led the Leopards to a 13-0 record and the Class 4A state title. He recorded 16 quarterback sacks and caught 17 passes for 327 yards while playing as a tight end.
Jason was the fourth Kaufusi to play at the University of Utah, following in the steps of his brothers Doug, Henry and Jeff. He is the father of two daughters, Taliana and Malia, and a son, Ammon.
Kaufusi is the latest addition to the Bruin coaching staff which also saw Coach Kelly appoint Justin Frye as Offensive Coordinator and Derek Sage as Special Teams Coordinator during the off-season. Frye will also continue to coach the offensive line. Sage will remain in charge of the Bruin tight ends.
This past year, Nevada advanced to a bowl game for the first time in three seasons with Kaufusi coaching the defensive line. Korey Rush earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors at defensive line while ranking second in the league in tackles for loss per game (1.3) last season. In his first year, Kaufusi coached Malik Reed to first-team All-Mountain West accolades. Reed led the Mountain West with eight sacks on the year and was eighth overall with 10.0 tackles for loss. Under Kaufusi's guidance, the Nevada defensive line combined for 15.5 of the team's 23 sacks on the year.
Prior to joining the staff at Nevada, Kaufusi coached for five years at Weber State and served as the team's defensive coordinator for the 2016 season. That 2016 Weber State team finished 7-5 overall and advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the first time in seven years. Under Kaufusi's leadership, the Wildcats led the Big Sky in passing defense in 2016, allowing just 193.5 yards per game. The Wildcats also had five players on defense earn Big Sky All-Conference honors.
In the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Kaufusi was in charge of the Weber State defensive ends after being hired in December of 2013. The Wildcats led the Big Sky in total defense in 2015 and finished with a 6-5 overall record and 5-3 mark in Big Sky play, WSU's first winning season in five years. Kaufusi had previously spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Weber State as an assistant coach in charge of the defensive ends.
In between the two stints at Weber State, Kaufusi worked as a defensive graduate assistant coach at BYU during the 2012 and 2013 seasons for head coach Bronco Mendenhall. He also served as the football team's academic advisor in 2013. The Cougars advanced to bowl games in both seasons and finished with a pair of 8-5 records.
In 2009, Kaufusi spent time as an administrative assistant at his alma mater, the University of Utah, under head coach Kyle Whittingham, where he assisted with the cornerbacks. The Utah secondary ranked 14th in the nation in pass defense that season, while the Ute defense was ranked 19th nationally.
Kaufusi also coached four seasons (2004-07) as an assistant at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City. He worked with the defensive line for the Colts and oversaw academics and assisted with strength and conditioning for the team.
Kaufusi signed to play football at Utah in February 1997, but left to serve a LDS Church mission to Panama before beginning his collegiate career. He joined the Utes for the 2000 season, under head coach Ron McBride and then-defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham, and was voted the Co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year after totaling 63 tackles. He also earned honorable mention all-conference honors with eight sacks while starting nine games. Kaufusi went on to earn first-team All-Mountain West honors in both 2001 and 2002. As a senior in 2003, he was a pre-season All-America candidate and was on the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists.
A native of Salt Lake City, Kaufusi attended East High School where, as a senior in 1996, he was named the Utah 4A Player of the Year and led the Leopards to a 13-0 record and the Class 4A state title. He recorded 16 quarterback sacks and caught 17 passes for 327 yards while playing as a tight end.
Jason was the fourth Kaufusi to play at the University of Utah, following in the steps of his brothers Doug, Henry and Jeff. He is the father of two daughters, Taliana and Malia, and a son, Ammon.
Kaufusi is the latest addition to the Bruin coaching staff which also saw Coach Kelly appoint Justin Frye as Offensive Coordinator and Derek Sage as Special Teams Coordinator during the off-season. Frye will also continue to coach the offensive line. Sage will remain in charge of the Bruin tight ends.