San Jose Mercury News
By: Phil Jensen
OAKLAND -- Former Raiders running back Napoleon Kaufman has been hired as Bishop O'Dowd High's head football coach.
"I'm just thrilled," Kaufman said.
Kaufman, 40, said that he did not consider being a head coach until a month ago.
"I started getting this itch, that I could see myself taking over a program," he said.
"No. 1, I really enjoy the school. I appreciate from an academic aspect the things they have accomplished at the school, and from a sports and athletic standpoint, I was really impressed with what they've done at this school."
Kaufman takes over for another former NFL star, Hardy Nickerson, who stepped down last month after four seasons as the Dragons coach.
Kaufman's son, Napoleon Jr., will be a junior on the football team next season, and his son Nathanael will be a freshman at Bishop O'Dowd in the fall. Kaufman said it is not his intention to leave after his sons graduate.
"I love kids, I love sports, and I feel this is an awesome way to give back to the community," he said.
Kaufman, a senior pastor of The Well Christian Community church in Livermore, played six seasons for the Raiders and retired after the 2000 season. He rushed for 4,792 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 91 NFL games.
"I love my church and I see this as an extension of my work," said Kaufman, who also starred at the University of Washington and was the 1994 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. "I sat down with my elders. ... my staff and it was clear that I had the time to do (this coaching position)."
Kaufman said that he was a volunteer coach at O'Dowd the past two seasons and has also been also a coach in the Pleasanton Junior Football League.