Brad Daluiso, Grossmont College, 1987-88

Played 12 seasons, the majority of them with the New York Giants; also played for Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders. Daluiso appeared in Super Bowl XXVI for the Buffalo Bills and in Super Bowl XXXV for the New York Giants. He retired after the 2001 season.

Brad Daluiso, who graduated from Grossmont College in 1988, was selected as one of five outstanding community college alumni in the state for 2012 by the Community College League of California. He was honored at the league’s convention in Los Angeles in November.

Daluiso had a highly successful 10-year career as a kicker for the National Football League, but before he came to Grossmont College, he’d never stepped on a football field. After playing as a kicker for the Grossmont football team, Daluiso discovered a talent that led to his pro football career that included two Super Bowl appearances.

Daluiso, whose mother, Ann, was a family life professor at Grossmont College, practically grew up on the Grossmont College campus, so it was natural for him to attend college there. He’d started out at San Diego State University, but said he felt more comfortable taking classes and playing football at Grossmont College.

“It was a real natural fit,” Daluiso said. “I became quite motivated and was inspired to chase after my sports dreams.”

After graduating from Grossmont College, Daluiso played football at UCLA for two years before starting his pro football career. Daluiso still vividly remembers two games in which he kicked the game-winning field goals – one in a game against Stanford University and another against the University of Washington.

“As a kicker, you’re under the microscope,” Daluiso said. “You either miss it and you’re the goat or make it, and you’re the hero.”

He spent eight seasons with the New York Giants, retiring in 2000 as the team’s all-time most accurate kicker and the second-leading scorer of all time in the team’s history.  He also played with the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos.

Daluiso now works as a financial planning specialist for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, but hasn’t forgotten his ties to Grossmont College. He created the Brad Daluiso Golf Classic, now in its 10th year, to raise money for scholarships and athletic programs. He recently joined the board of the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, which also supports college programs and scholarships through fundraising.

“I wanted to find a way to give back,” Daluiso said of his efforts on behalf of the colleges. “I see what it does. When you go to graduation, you see what it’s done for those students.”

In 2000, Daluiso received the Ed Block Courage Award, presented to the New York Giants team member displaying exemplary leadership, courage and community service. Three years later, he was inducted into Grossmont College’s Walk of Fame, a permanent display of bronze plaques in front of the library on the college campus.

Daluiso lives with his wife, Kahle, in Carmel Valley. They have three children: Spencer, 20 and 13-year-old twins Mimi and Rocco. He continues to serve as a wonderful ambassador for our colleges and for community colleges everywhere.

As a financial planning specialist, Daluiso knows the value of a good investment. Looking back, going to Grossmont College may have been the best investment he ever made.