Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1993
One of the best linebackers to ever play at Cal Poly, Mel Kaufman's professional career continued his excellence.
Mel was a starter for the 1980 NCAA Division II Championship team for the Mustangs, ending his collegiate career with a victory over Eastern Illinois in the National Championship game played at the Zia Bowl at the University of New Mexico Stadium. An undrafted free agent, Mel was a starter with three Super Bowl Champions with the Washington Redskins in 1982, 1983 and 1987.
Kaufman started 78 of 91 games with Washington. He ended his playing career at the end of the 1988-89 season.
Mel stayed with the Redskins organization as a scouting supervisor and was part of the 1991 squad for a fourth Super Bowl ring. The eight-year Redskins veteran remained active after his playing career with many local charities in the Washington, D. C. area.
Kaufman passed away in February 2009 after serving one season as an assistant coach with the Cal Poly football team in 2008. He helped guide the Mustangs to an 8-3 record, a Great West Conference title and their second NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth.
Kaufman had been out of football at the college and professional levels for about 10 years before he was hired to coach the Mustang linebackers.
Born Feb. 24, 1958, in Los Angeles, Kaufman earned two varsity letters in football at Santa Monica High School, graduating in 1976. He played four seasons with the Mustangs after a redshirt year in 1976. Kaufman obtained his bachelor’s degree in social science and industrial relations at Cal Poly in 1984.
The Mel Kaufman Award, established by former head coach Tim Walsh, is presented annually to the Cal Poly player who most exemplifies the virtues Kaufman became known for off the field.
