David Kaufman is the current Head Men’s Tennis Coach and Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach for the Oakton College Owls.
As such, Kaufman started at Oakton in March of 2023, diving into his first college coaching experience with a full Men’s conference schedule and participating in the Women’s team trip to the NJCAA Nationals ( Tyler, Tx.) in May.
In addition to his Oakton responsibilities, he is a Tennis Pro at River Trails Racket Club in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he teaches all levels and ages of players. He also provides individual private instruction for a small group of players.
Kaufman was born and raised in Eastern Iowa, along the Mississippi River. He competed in high school spots and was a State Finalist in tennis his senior year.
He went on to play 4 years of varsity tennis at Valparaiso University, and was conference champion at singles as a freshman(#3). Post graduate in the 1980’s (tennis balls were white and rackets wood), he competed in regional USTA tournaments, getting a #4 ranking in doubles in the late 70’s ( Iowa) and qualifying a Chicago team for the USTA National Championships representing the Midwest in Arizona.
Prior to his Oakton coaching duties, Kaufman was a business executive in the automotive and later consumer goods industries. He has worked mostly in Chicago, but along the way has had offices in Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, New York, and Detroit.
He holds an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago
Kaufman retired in 2021 after 48 years of amazing experiences and many relationships.
He is married to a women he met in Junior High School (7th grade!) and they have 2 grown children ( lawyer and consultant). Both live close by in Arlington Hts.
He is a long-time member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, Il., where he has served as Sunday school teacher, usher, youth director, and church president. He has worked more recently as liaison to several Chicago West-side churches on scattered site single family housing initiatives.
