Preston Hadley hired as Safeties Coach

So we're now basically Weber St-South?

Not excited to trade Kafusi for Hadley - but that's none of my business

We're trading experience for inexperience. It didn't work out well for the offense the last two season, we'll see how it works for the defense.

So Gilford's job just got cut in half?

If Kaufusi was going to stay on as the LBs coach instead of moving back to the Dline, I'm okay with this.



I think Lamb will be an upgrade coaching the LBs over what we got out of Kaufusi last season, and I think Hadley will do just fine with the safeties.



If we were losing Kaufusi as a DL coach, I would feel differently, but apparently Tuiaki is keeping that role, which is my least favorite position-coaching assignment based on results last season.

My guess is that Tuiaki didn't like having an old guard in the room who wasn't afraid to disagree with him. And Kaufusi probably got tired of being under a coordinator who didn't really know what he was doing and moved him out of the spot he knew best and would have a chance to work with his son.



I was pretty high on Kaufusi, especially on the DLine. I'm not high on Tuiaki at all. And now even less so.



Kaufusi was the last holdover from the last successful staff we had. [slowly shakes head and exhales....]

Good point.

CrimsonCoug wrote:

My guess is that Tuiaki didn't like having an old guard in the room who wasn't afraid to disagree with him. And Kaufusi probably got tired of being under a coordinator who didn't really know what he was doing and moved him out of the spot he knew best and would have a chance to work with his son.



I was pretty high on Kaufusi, especially on the DLine. I'm not high on Tuiaki at all. And now even less so.



Kaufusi was the last holdover from the last successful staff we had. [slowly shakes head and exhales....]

By the same token, if Coach Tuiaki felt like Coach Kaufusi was preventing him from implement his full vision on defense, it's the right move for him to organize his staff in a way that will. If the defense doesn't improve next year, it will be Coach Tuiaki's turn to leave.

CrimsonCoug wrote:

I was pretty high on Kaufusi, especially on the DLine. I'm not high on Tuiaki at all. And now even less so.

Agree 100%.

Hadley is not without experience ... 5(?) years at Weber? I hope he does well.



The other comments about the defensive staff ... I agree. I have more question marks in my head about next year than ever ...

Defense will suck next year.

Gunk wrote:

Defense will suck again next year.

Fixed it for you



although you might have actually meant

Gunk wrote:

Defense will suck even worse next year.

Solid fixes.

I would have thought some would have been excited that Kalani finally went out and hired a Bronco Mendenhall product instead of somebody from his inner circle.

snoscythe wrote:

I would have thought some would have been excited that Kalani finally went out and hired a Bronco Mendenhall product instead of somebody from his inner circle.

I would have been excited if he didn't, at the same time, get rid of probably our best position coach on the staff (who was also great under Bronco)

ABYUFAN wrote:

Defense will suck again next year.

Fixed it for you



although you might have actually meant

Gunk wrote:

Defense will suck even worse next year.

Haha! Verdict is still out whether it will be worse. I know there's some room for it to sink lower, but I am trying to be optimistic.

ABYUFAN wrote:

I would have thought some would have been excited that Kalani finally went out and hired a Bronco Mendenhall product instead of somebody from his inner circle.

I would have been excited if he didn't, at the same time, get rid of probably our best position coach on the staff (who was also great under Bronco)

From what I've heard, Kaufusi is leaving of his own accord. He's ready to drop a few gears in his work life and make room for his wife to be all in as the new mayor of Provo.



Who said Kalani fired him?

snoscythe wrote:

snoscythe wrote:

I would have thought some would have been excited that Kalani finally went out and hired a Bronco Mendenhall product instead of somebody from his inner circle.

I would have been excited if he didn't, at the same time, get rid of probably our best position coach on the staff (who was also great under Bronco)

From what I've heard, Kaufusi is leaving of his own accord. He's ready to drop a few gears in his work life and make room for his wife to be all in as the new mayor of Provo.



Who said Kalani fired him?

Ben Criddle is proposing today that it wasn't of Steve's accord. That he was fired.

hawkwing wrote:

ABYUFAN wrote:

I would have thought some would have been excited that Kalani finally went out and hired a Bronco Mendenhall product instead of somebody from his inner circle.

I would have been excited if he didn't, at the same time, get rid of probably our best position coach on the staff (who was also great under Bronco)

From what I've heard, Kaufusi is leaving of his own accord. He's ready to drop a few gears in his work life and make room for his wife to be all in as the new mayor of Provo.



Who said Kalani fired him?

Ben Criddle is proposing today that it wasn't of Steve's accord. That he was fired.

I think Criddle said it feels like Kaufusi was fired. Didn't claim to know it or have heard otherwise. I think what Criddle was referring to is Tuiaki's refusal to put Kaufusi back on the DLine where he wanted to be--where he could coach his boys. He could have stayed at LB coach, but that's not what he wanted.



From what I've heard from non-media friends, this was Steve's call and he was just waiting to see if BYU could find him another position in the building before making it public.



When your employer is willing to let you continue your job in the present position, that's not anywhere close to being fired. It just might feel like it.