Gainesville, Florida, Softball Head Coach Tim Walton proudly introduced Chelsey Dobbins as the newest assistant coach for the Florida program on Saturday. Dobbins’ primary focus will be nurturing the development of UF’s pitching staff.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Walton stated, “I am delighted to announce the addition of Chelsey Dobbins as our pitching coach within the Florida Gator softball coaching staff. Throughout the search process, it became evident to me that Chelsey was the ideal candidate to lead our pitching staff, design game plans, and execute pitch calling for our program. Her dedication, work ethic, and experience in mentoring young pitchers have prepared her to embrace the challenge of guiding our pitching staff back to the Women’s College World Series.”
Dobbins joins the Gators after serving on the coaching staff at North Carolina for the past eight seasons. Starting as an assistant coach in September 2015, she swiftly assumed the role of pitching coach and was subsequently promoted to Associate Head Coach at UNC in 2018.
Expressing her humility, Dobbins remarked, “I am deeply honored to become a part of such a prestigious university and athletic department. I am excited about joining Gator Nation and embracing the culture of excellence that Scott Stricklin has fostered here at the University of Florida. I extend my gratitude to Coach Walton for inviting me to be a part of his staff and entrusting me with the responsibility of leading the pitching staff to new heights. I am thrilled to embark on this journey towards securing another national championship for Gator Softball! Go Gators!”
During her tenure at North Carolina, Dobbins guided Tar Heels’ pitchers to numerous NFCA and Atlantic Coast Conference accolades. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in helping UNC break the single-season stolen base record on four occasions between 2016 and 2019. Notably, in 2016, Dobbins transformed Kendra Lynch into an All-ACC First Team selection, earning her three ACC Pitcher of the Week honors and setting four single-season records.
In 2017, Dobbins mentored freshman Brittany Pickett, who excelled both as a pitcher and at the plate. Pickett’s remarkable performance ranked her among the top 10 in 17 different ACC statistical categories, leading to her being named ACC Freshman of the Year and a NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top 10 Finalist. Pickett continued to shine in her sophomore season in 2018, securing All-ACC First Team honors and achieving second place nationally in wins, eighth in shutouts, and 29th in strikeouts.
During the 2019 season, Dobbins guided Pickett to her third All-ACC First Team selection, while also helping freshman Hannah George receive ACC All-Freshmen Team honors. Under her tutelage, UNC pitchers recorded an impressive 15 shutouts, the most since 2012.
Before joining North Carolina, Dobbins served as the pitching coach at Cal Poly during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Her guidance led the Mustangs’ pitching staff to a national ranking of 27th in 2014, topping the Big West Conference with a stellar 2.13 ERA. Notably, ace pitcher Sierra Hyland earned Big West Pitcher of the Year honors with her impressive performance, including a 1.48 ERA, 263 strikeouts, and 26 victories.
Dobbins commenced her coaching career as a graduate assistant at ULM in 2010 before assuming the role of assistant coach at Marshall from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, Marshall’s pitching staff ranked 34th in the nation in ERA, contributing to the program’s first Conference USA Championship
