He led Northeastern baseball to a state title 20 years ago. Now he's back for another run

Don Kauffman doesn't think his players know his coaching resume.

And that's perfectly fine with him.

A decade after he last coached high school baseball, Kauffman is back leading the Northeastern High School program this spring. The 49-year-old coached the Bobcats for 10 seasons from 2004 to 2014, taking a short break in 2010 when he led the school's boys' basketball program for two seasons.

Kauffman guided the Bobcats to a PIAA Class 2A title (out of three classifications) his first season and led the Bobcats to the District 3 playoffs every year of his tenure. That 2004 Bobcats baseball team is the only Northeastern squad outside of the boys' volleyball program to win a state title.

"I don't talk about it at all," he said about his past success. "So I don't know. I'm focused on helping us get better now."

The Bobcats are off to a 5-4 start and in third place in YAIAA Division I during a season that has already featured a number of inclement weather postponements. But players and coaches around the YAIAA expect the Bobcats to be a tough out the rest of the season and the playoffs.

But Kauffman isn't worried about those outside expectations. After a 7-2 road loss to Red Lion last Wednesday, he admitted he was frustrated by the team's start, but said he's enjoyed being around the game again.

He jumped back into coaching "cold turkey" this spring after nine years in which he didn't participate at any level.

A science teacher at Northeastern Middle School, Kauffman left coaching initially because his kids were young. He said a number of people in the community encouraged him this past offseason to apply for the position.

"I thought maybe I'd give this a whirl again," he said.

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The circumstances are definitely different than the first time he became a head coach. A 1993 Northeastern grad, Kauffman was just 29 in 2004, but had spent five seasons as an assistant under Wayne Bacon. He had a great relationship with the program's loaded senior class after coaching most of those players in youth baseball and basketball.

He's taken over a talented team once again. Northeastern went 11-10 and reached the District 3 Class 6A playoffs last season under Manny Vazquez. Opposing coaches at YAIAA media day predicted a breakout season for the Bobcats. But Kauffman has had to get to know a group of "super nice kids" he never previously worked with.

He didn't hesitate when asked if high school baseball is any different than it was a decade ago.

"Oh, it's changed," Kauffman said. "Just like in basketball, all the AAU and travel ball has put a negative spin on things a little bit. Kids are very into numbers and stats. Pitchers are all looking to hit that 90 (miles per hour) number instead of learning how to pitch. Or understand how to move runners. Those are some things I've seen."

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But Kauffman also said the talent around the YAIAA and District 3 has increased since he last coached. Northeastern has already faced two of the YAIAA's best pitchers, Red Lion's A.J. Lipscomb and South Western's Carlos Caraballo.

The Bobcats are currently in position to make the District 3 Class 6A playoffs. But a lot can change over the next month. Northeastern beat Central York — coached by Kauffman's former player Kody Reeser — 10-2, Monday afternoon. The Bobcats have 11 more games to play between now and May 10.

Northeastern showed its potential last week against unbeaten Red Lion. The Bobcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and starting pitcher Quinn Shindler looked untouchable through three innings until control problems allowed the Lions to surge ahead without hitting the ball hard.

The Bobcats are averaging six runs per game and have five starters hitting over .300.

Northeastern doesn't get its rematches with Red Lion and South Western until May, but Kauffman doesn't want his players thinking about that or winning championships. While baseball has changed over the past decade, his philosophy has stayed the same.

"Each game is the most important game because it's the next game," Kauffman said. "The goal is to win the next game and keep getting better. There's a lot of season left. It's not how you start, it's how you finish. This isn't a sprint, but baseball can move fast with the weather. If we can learn to relax and use what we learned in practice, this wins will take care of themselves."

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on X at @bad2theallibone.