A 1979 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Kausler began his career in sports journalism. He was a sports reporter and/or sports editor at the Milwaukee Sentinel, The Birmingham (Ala.) News, the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune and the Birmingham (Ala.) Post-Herald.

In South Carolina, Kausler was the managing editor and editor at the Independent-Mail (Anderson). Later, he was the editor of the Morning News from 2013 through 2021.

In Alabama, Kausler covered Bear Bryant's last season as the University of Alabama's football coach and three national championships in four seasons while the Crimson Tide was coached by Nick Saban.

As the executive sports editor of the Birmingham Post-Herald, Kausler was the boss of eventual ESPN personality Paul Finebaum.

“It’s a dirty job,” Kausler said jokingly, “but somebody’s got to do it.”