DaCota Kauffman joined the staff of head coach Scott Malone and the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball program in an assistant coach and player personnel role in August 2025. The 2026 season will be his first with the team, where he will look to bring a passion for player development and recruiting excellence to the Islanders program.

A native of Giddings, Texas, Kauffman began his collegiate baseball career at Nelson University in Waxahachie before transferring to Texas State University. At Texas State, he served as a student assistant coach under Head Coach Steven Trout from 2018 to 2021, contributing to the Bobcats’ success while completing his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science.

After graduation, Kauffman joined the coaching staff at the University of St. Thomas (Houston) as a volunteer assistant during the program’s early years. In his first season, he helped guide the Celts to their first-ever conference tournament appearance and postseason victory. Following year two, Kauffman was promoted to Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator under Head Coach Tory Peterson. During his tenure, the Celts reached the conference tournament for a second consecutive season and set new standards for the young program.

Now part of the Islanders’ staff, Kauffman is committed to building a championship culture on and off the field. He and his wife, Tara, reside in Corpus Christi.