Former Raider Named East Bay High School Varsity Football Coach

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin High School has hired former Oakland Raiders running back Napoleon Kaufman as the new coach of its varsity football team, taking the reins from Brandon Black who led the Gaels for five years.

The Dublin Unified School District announced the move Friday, highlighting Kaufman's storied football career that began at Lompoc High School, where he became one of the top high school running backs in California prep history. He would go on to become a two-time All-American player at the University of Washington, where he set an all-time rushing record that held for more than 20 years.

Kaufman was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1995 draft and played with the team for his entire six-year career, averaging nearly five yards per carry. According to the district, Kaufman's coaching career started in the Pleasanton Junior Football League, where he coached his three sons for over a decade, before following them to Bishop O'Dowd. Over six seasons, he led the team to three league championships and secured the CIF State title in 2016.

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Kaufman also serves as the senior pastor for more than 1,000 worshipers at the Well Christian Community Church in Livermore.

"One of the most rewarding experiences in my life has been working with young athletes, inspiring them to reach their potential and showing them the beauty of teamwork, commitment, and perseverance," Kaufman said in a statement. "I enjoy helping young men and women become better athletes and also better human beings. Dublin High has a great tradition of athletics success and I hope to add to that legacy as the new head coach of Dublin High football."

Kaufman plans to meet with Dublin players, parents and coaches next week ahead of Spring practices getting underway next month.