For 27 seasons, Joe Bauth has guided the Kats to 954 wins with a career .624 winning percentage. During his tenure in western New York, Bauth has led Erie to 23 winning seasons with a consistent presence in the Division III national rankings. A three-time ABCA Coach of the Year, Bauth has reached the NJCAA Region III championship game 10 times in his career.
Bauth has been awarded the NJCAA District Coach of the Year on four occasions along with three Region III coach of the year honors. Under Bauth's tutelage, the Kats claimed four Region III Championships, most recently in 2011. Bauth's resume also includes three Louisville Slugger Awards for Coaching Excellence – 1998, 2003, and 2011.
Bauth has guided 69 student-athletes to the All-Region team while 12 have earned NJCAA All-America accolades. Eight former student-athletes have gone on to play professionally following their time at Erie.
Aside from his duties as a head coach, Bauth currently serves as the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association President and represented the NJCAA National Baseball team at the 84thannual National Baseball Congress World Series in 2018. Bauth is also an active member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, serving on the Executive Committee.
A professor in the college's Health, Wellness, and Physical Education department, Bauth received a bachelor's and master's degree from Canisius.