Prior to UNO: Two-year letterman at Alvin Community College, playing under head coach Jason Schreiber… helped the Dolphins to a 72-42 record, 49-31 in conference play, with back-to-back trips to the Region XIV Tournament… appeared in 60 games while at Alvin, posting 44 hits in 171 at bats for a .257 batting average with 37 RBI, 28 runs scored,  13 doubles and 11 home runs… led ACC in home runs with eight as a senior while posting a .556 slugging percentage, second best on the team… hit a career-best .272 as a freshman, recording 22 hits off 81 at bats with 15 RBI, 12 runs scored, nine doubles and three home runs… selected to the 2015 Texas-New Mexico Junior College All-Star Game.
 
High School: Three-year letterman at Nacogdoches High School, playing under head coaches Wayne Williams and Nicky Wiggins… helped the Dragons to a 43-29 overall record, 20-12 in district play, with two trips to the Texas 4A Region 2 & 4 State Baseball Playoffs… named to the Preseason 4A Top 50 Players list by Texas High School Baseball and Under Armour Preseason All-American heading into his senior year while claiming Perfect Game honorable mention All-American, first-team All-State Perfect Game All-Region second team, All-District and Defensive Player of the Year as a senior while earning Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention as a junior and All-District as a junior and sophomore… ranked as the 64^th overall prospect in Texas’ class of 2014 and the 72^nd catcher nationally by Perfect Game.
 
Personal: Born Dakota Will Phillips on November 9, 1995 in Nacogdoches, Texas… son of Randy and Camala Phillips… has one brother, Collin Phillips… Human Performance and Health Promotion major.