Cal, defensive coordinator Art Kaufman part ways

The Cal football team has parted ways with veteran defensive coordinator Art Kaufman.

The 58-year-old Kaufman, who has been with the Golden Bears since 2014, led one of the worst FBS defenses in the nation in 2016, so the decision was one that had to be made.

“We thank Art for the progress he was able to help our program make, but we have decided that we need to go in a different direction and find new leadership at defensive coordinator,” head coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement. “We wish him the best in his future coaching endeavors.”

This season, Cal finished 125th out of 128 FBS schools in total defense. The Golden Bears allowed a whopping 518 yards per game and allowed fewer than 21 points in a game only once.

Kaufman has had a 35-year coaching career, which has included stops at Power 5 programs like Ole Miss, North Carolina, Texas Tech and Cincinnati.

“I thank Sonny Dykes for the opportunity to serve as the defensive coordinator at Cal for the past three seasons,” Kaufman said. “It was an honor and a pleasure.”

While he had his struggles in 2016, it’s hard to imagine a coach with Kaufman’s experience will not be able to find another gig.

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