Coach Southworth is a native of Cedar Falls, IA and has been involved with rugby for seven years, mostly as a player. Dakota was instrumental in helping Cedar Falls get to the state high school rugby tournament in both his junior and senior years. His senior year he helped Cedar Falls earn a 2nd place finish in the large school division and was named to the All-State team. Dakota has played competitively with the Bremer County Bucks Men's RFC (Waverly, IA), as well as earning the honor to play two tournaments with Rebels Rugby Academy (Colorado) in the summer of 2019. The following year he attended Iowa Central starting at blindside flanker on the 2019 D1AA National Championship team. He attended Iowa Central for three years receiving an AAS in HVAC and a diploma in Industrial Mechanics. He was an appointed member of the Iowa Central Rugby Leadership Council all three years of his playing career. In his final year, he was elected captain of the team.

Triton Rugby Head Coach, Brent Nelson, is excited to bring on Southworth as an Assistant Coach. "We are very pleased to have Dakota join the coaching staff. He has been a tremendous player and leader on and off the field for three years.  We are looking forward to his growth as a rugby coach. Dakota brings a unique perspective into his new position having just been a player. It will be important for him to stay connected with his former teammates while he mentors them.  Dakota was one of the hardest working young men we've ever had here at Iowa Central. He is also well liked and will fit into the "Triton way" rather seamlessly."
 
Dakota is also looking forward to his new role. "I'm excited to be a part of the Iowa Central rugby coaching staff since being a player here for three years. I look at this position as an opportunity for personal growth, learning more about rugby and building the players into good men. Coach Nelson and Coach Lippert are great people who are going to help me grow as a player, coach and person."

Away from the game, Dakota enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.