Football
- Title:
- Outside Linebackers
Jason Kaufusi, a standout player while at the University of Utah, joined the Bruins staff in January of 2019 after serving the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada.
In 2021, the Bruins ranked second in the Pac-12 in sacks (2.17) and rushing defense (124.2). Bo Calvert topped the team with 4.0 sacks and Mitchell Agude paced the Pac-12 in forced fumbles (0.33) while adding 6.5 tackles for loss.
In the 2020 campaign, the Bruins ranked eighth in the nation and led the Pac-12 in sacks per game (3.29). The defensive unit surrendered just shy of 50 yards per contest less than 2019 and recorded a Pac-12 low 3.6 yards allowed per carry. Carl Jones and Agude tied for 13th in the Pac-12 in sacks per game (0.36). Agude, who was named second-team All-Pac-12 by PFF, rated fourth in the league in tackles for loss at 1.29/g and was 10th in the nation in forced fumbles per game (0.43).
In his first season with the Bruins, Josh Woods put up career-high numbers across the board in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss and was named a second-team all-conference selection by Associated Press. Woods, who also added an interception and two key fumble recoveries, led the unit in sacks (4.5) as the team upped its quarterback sack totals from 11 to 26 in one season. The outside linebacker group produced 17.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
The previous two years, Kaufusi was in charge of the Wolf Pack defensive linemen. Nevada advanced to a bowl game for the first time in three seasons in 2018 and defensive lineman Korey Rush earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors while ranking second in the league in tackles for loss per game (1.3). In his initial year in Reno, 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 in 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 spent 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 coached the Weber State defensive ends after being originally 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 coached four seasons (2004-07) as an assistant at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City. He was in charge of 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 and started 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 on the watch lists for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy awards, but an injury sidelined him for the season.
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 tight end.
Jason was the fourth Kaufusi to play at the University of Utah, following the steps of his brothers Doug, Henry and Jeff. He is the father of three daughters, Taliana, Malia and Kimari, and a son, Ammon.
