(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Softball Head Coach Tim Walton named Chelsey Dobbins as the Florida program's newest assistant coach Saturday. Dobbins' primary responsibility will be the development of UF's pitching staff.

"I am excited to announce the addition of pitching coach Chelsey Dobbins to our Florida Gator softball coaching staff," Walton said. "When I began the search process, it was very clear to me who I wanted to lead our pitching staff, design game plans and execute pitch calling for our program. Chelsey's passion, work ethic, and experience mentoring young pitchers has her ready to accept the challenge of leading our pitching staff back to the Women's College World Series."

Dobbins joins the Gators after serving on the staff at North Carolina for the past eight seasons. Since being hired as an assistant coach in September of 2015, she has served as the pitching coach. Dobbins was promoted to Associate Head Coach at UNC in 2018.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to join such a prestigious university and athletic department," Dobbins said. "I am excited about being a part of Gator Nation and the culture of excellence Scott Stricklin has built here at the University of Florida. I would like to thank Coach Walton for the invitation to be a part of his staff and trusting me to lead the pitching staff to new heights. I am thrilled to start on this path to getting Gator Softball to another national championship! Go Gators!"

While at North Carolina, Dobbins guided Tar Heels' pitchers to multiple NFCA and Atlantic Coast Conference honors in addition to helping UNC break the single-season stolen base record four times from 2016 to 2019. In 2016, she transformed Kendra Lynch into an All-ACC First Team selection that included three ACC Pitcher of the Week honors and four single-season records.

In 2017, Dobbins mentored freshman Brittany Pickett who excelled both in the circle and at the plate. Pickett finished the year ranked inside the top 10 in 17 different ACC statistical categories on the way to being named ACC Freshman of the Year and a NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top 10 Finalist. During Pickett's sophomore season in 2018 she garnered All-ACC First Team honors and finished the year ranked second nationally in wins, eighth in shutouts and 29th in strikeouts.

During the 2019 season, Dobbins mentored Pickett to her third All-ACC first team honor and her second NFCA All-Southeast Region second-team selection, and freshman Hannah George to ACC All-Freshmen Team honors. She also guided UNC pitchers to 15 shutouts – the most since 2012.

Prior to her time with North Carolina, Dobbins spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the pitching coach at Cal Poly. Under her guidance, the Mustangs' pitching staff finished the 2014 season ranked 27th nationally and at the top of the Big West Conference with a 2.13 ERA. The staff was led by ace Sierra Hyland who garnered Big West Pitcher of the Year honors after she posted a 1.48 ERA with 263 strikeouts and 26 victories.

Dobbins began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at ULM in 2010 before she served as an assistant coach at Marshall from 2011-13. During the 2013 season, the Thundering Herd's pitching staff ranked 34th in the nation in ERA with a 2.25 mark which helped the program to its first Conference USA Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

In her final two seasons with Marshall, the Herd pitching staff finished among the top-three in Conference USA programs in ERA, strikeouts and opposing batting average.

Dobbins is a native of San Jose, Calif. and started her collegiate playing career in 2004 at Illinois-Chicago where she was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team after she helped lead the Flames to their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance.

She later transferred to West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif. and was tabbed NorCal Pitcher of the Year with 22 wins and a 0.54 ERA. Dobbins concluded her playing career at Oklahoma State and pitched for the Cowgirls in 2006 and 2007 before she graduated with her degree in Elementary Education.

Walton Selects Chelsey Dobbins to Lead Pitching Staff - Florida Gators