California State University Northridge Athletics
CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame
Joseph Vaughn
- Induction:
- 2025
Joseph Vaughn was inducted into the CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025. Vaughn lettered for the Matador football team in 1993 and 1994 after playing two seasons at Cal State Fullerton.
A 6-foot, 200-pound senior safety from Sylmar High School, Vaughn was the first CSUN football player to earn Associated Press I-AA All-America first-team honors. After leading the Matadors in tackles and total defensive points as a senior, Vaughn earned I-AA First Team All-America honors in 1994 from the Associated Press. He sadly passed away on July 9, 2023, at the age of 50.
After playing a backup role in his first year with the Matadors in 1993, Vaughn had a phenomenal senior season, leading the Matadors in tackles and total defensive points. Despite playing for a team that lost its last five games to finish 3-7, Vaughn tied a school single-season record with nine interceptions during the 1994 season. He tied for third on the Matadors in scoring – behind kicker Matt Ornelaz and wide receiver David Romines – with 24 points to earn America West Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
During his career, he also tied the CSUN single-season record with nine interceptions in his final season. Vaughn also has the rare distinction of returning four interceptions for touchdowns to tie two NCAA Div. I-AA marks. He had 265 yards in returns to set another division record - the previous record was 251 return yards by Zack Bronson of McNeese State in 1993.
Vaughn is the 12th Matador football player inducted into the CSUN Hall of Fame.
A 6-foot, 200-pound senior safety from Sylmar High School, Vaughn was the first CSUN football player to earn Associated Press I-AA All-America first-team honors. After leading the Matadors in tackles and total defensive points as a senior, Vaughn earned I-AA First Team All-America honors in 1994 from the Associated Press. He sadly passed away on July 9, 2023, at the age of 50.
After playing a backup role in his first year with the Matadors in 1993, Vaughn had a phenomenal senior season, leading the Matadors in tackles and total defensive points. Despite playing for a team that lost its last five games to finish 3-7, Vaughn tied a school single-season record with nine interceptions during the 1994 season. He tied for third on the Matadors in scoring – behind kicker Matt Ornelaz and wide receiver David Romines – with 24 points to earn America West Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
During his career, he also tied the CSUN single-season record with nine interceptions in his final season. Vaughn also has the rare distinction of returning four interceptions for touchdowns to tie two NCAA Div. I-AA marks. He had 265 yards in returns to set another division record - the previous record was 251 return yards by Zack Bronson of McNeese State in 1993.
Vaughn is the 12th Matador football player inducted into the CSUN Hall of Fame.
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