PROVO, Utah — BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake today announced that longtime BYU defensive coach Steve Kaufusi has stepped down from his coaching position to pursue other interests. Weber State secondary coach and former BYU defensive back Preston Hadley has been hired as the safeties coach.
“Anyone who knows Steve knows he is an exceptional coach and mentor to young men, which you can see in the players he has coached over the years and also in his own family,” Sitake said. “I wish Steve nothing but the best for his future.”
Kaufusi has served on the BYU coaching staff the past 16 seasons. His 24-year coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Utah in 1994. As a player, Kaufusi was a defensive lineman for the Cougars from 1985-1987 after transferring from Dixie College (1981, 1984). He was drafted in 1988 by the Philadelphia Eagles and played three seasons in the NFL with the Eagles and one year with the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to coach at BYU for the past 16 seasons,” Kaufusi said. “I’m honored to have had the opportunity to represent the University and everything it stands for. I will always be a Cougar and look forward to watching my sons play at BYU.”
With the addition of Hadley to the defensive staff, assistant head coach Ed Lamb will move from safeties to coach linebackers while defensive coordinator ‘Ilaisa Tuiaki and Jernaro Gilford will maintain their position assignments with the defensive line and cornerbacks, respectively. Sitake, as head coach, will also assist in coaching the defense in 2018.
“Preston is a leader and a coach who understands and knows how to teach the fundamentals and techniques of the game,” Sitake said. “He is a young, up-and-coming coach in this business who brings experience overseeing the entire secondary and as a recruiting coordinator. He will fit in perfectly with Jernaro in our defensive backfield and we are excited to welcome him back home to BYU.”
Hadley, 29, returns to BYU with five years of coaching experience after working at Weber State the past two seasons. In 2017, Hadley helped the Wildcats to a Big Sky Conference title, a school-record 11 wins and two wins in the FCS playoffs. Weber State’s defense led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and red zone defense this past season while ranking in the top 25 nationally in nine different statistical categories, including No. 6 in interceptions (18), No. 8 in total turnovers (28), No. 9 in red zone defense (.676), No. 13 in pass efficiency defense (107.29) and No. 16 in scoring defense (17.6 ppg). In 2016, Hadley helped Weber State create the top passing defense in the Big Sky, while the Wildcats earned a 7-5 record, third-place conference finish and WSU’s first trip to the FCS Playoffs in seven years.
“I’m honored to return home to represent BYU and looking forward to working alongside the great coaches on the staff,” Hadley said. “I am very thankful to Coach Jay Hill for teaching me how to be a football coach, and to Coach Sitake, Coach Tuiaki, and the BYU administration for the opportunity to serve at my alma mater and help provide the BYU experience to the student-athletes.”
Hadley pupil Taron Johnson was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year this past season while earning first-team Associated Press FCS All-America accolades. The star cornerback was also invited to the prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl as well as the NFL Draft Combine. One of three defensive backs under Hadley’s care to earn all-conference honors in 2017, Johnson was the only unanimous selection to the defensive first team while fellow corner Xequille Harry and safety Jordan Preator both earned second-team all-conference recognition. In 2016, Hadley also coached two all-league players with Johnson and safety Josh Burton both earning second-team honors.
Before Weber State, Hadley was an assistant coach at Santa Ana College in 2015. He coached cornerbacks and the kickoff and punt return teams for the Dons and also served as the recruiting coordinator. Hadley started his coaching career at his alma mater BYU in 2013 and 2014 as a graduate assistant, where his responsibilities included helping coach defensive backs and wide receivers.
As a player, Hadley started all 26 games at corner for the Cougars in 2011 and 2012 after two years at Snow College. Versatile enough to play both corner and safety, the All-Independent Team honoree racked up 117 tackles over his two seasons to go along with 21 pass breakups and 2.5 sacks. His 14 pass breakups in 2011 tied for No. 9 nationally.
Hadley was part of one of the best defensive units in BYU history in 2012, contributing 66 tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups to the nation’s No. 3-rated defense (266.1 ypg). The Cougars also ranked No. 2 in rushing defense (86.9 ypg), No. 3 in scoring defense (14.0 ppg), No. 10 in passing defense (179.2 ypg) and No. 15 in passes defended (5.69). Following his BYU career, the Seattle Seahawks invited Hadley to participate in its minicamp as a free agent.
At Snow College, Hadley earned first-team all-conference honors and was the Region 18 Defensive MVP as a sophomore while helping the Badgers to a No. 7 national ranking. During his two years at Snow he recorded 125 career tackles with three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception while helping lead Snow to two Top of the Mountains Bowl titles and two conference championships.
A native of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Hadley was a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society honoree who graduated from BYU in 2013 with a degree in communications. He earned a master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2016. Hadley served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2007-2009 in the New York New York South Mission.
BYU will still hire an additional offensive coach to complete its staff for the 2018 season.