Men's Lacrosse | 9/22/2020 9:45:00 AM
Dave Dobbins enters his fourth season as head coach for the St. John Fisher College men's lacrosse program in 2020-21. In just three seasons, Dobbins has transformed the Cardinals into national contenders, as the team won its first-ever Empire 8 Championship in 2019 and earned its first NCAA Championship Tournament win in their inaugural appearance after defeating No. 11 Gettysburg in overtime.
Dobbins has led the Cardinals to a 32-11 in his first three seasons as head coach. Fisher posted a program-best 17-3 record in 2019 and had nine student-athletes named All-Conference, including Ian Evans who was named Rookie of the Year while Joe Post, Nick Miller and Jack Mulvihill were each named Honorable Mention All-American by the USILA. Fisher would go on to claim its highest national ranking in its history after being tabbed No. 12 to conclude the 2019 season. During his inaugural season in 2018, Dobbins guided Fisher back to the Empire 8 Championship as the Cardinals earned the second overall seed and won 12 games.
A native of Webster, NY, In 2003, Dobbins was a four-year Division I letter winner at Colgate University, where he played lacrosse from 1998-2001. Before arriving at Fisher, Dobbins served as an assistant at Salisbury University and The Ohio State University. He helped lead Salisbury to four NCAA Championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008) and was named IMLCA Division III Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year in 2005. Dobbins helped coach Ohio State to an ECAC Championship and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2013.
Dave Dobbins - Today's Leaders
Institution: St. John Fisher College
Title: Men's Lacrosse Head Coach
Year at Current Institution: Entering his fourth season as Men's Lacrosse Head Coach
College Attended/Class Year: Colgate University ’01
Playing Career (if any, collegiately or professionally): Colgate University Men's Lacrosse (1998-2001)
Favorite Professional Pro Team: Buffalo Bills
Favorite Movie: Slapshot
Recent Community Service Projects Your Teams or Departments Have Worked On: St. John Fisher men's lacrosse enjoys working with Special Olympics.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time as a Player in College: Gaining so many friendships.
Favorite Memory as a Coach/Administrator at Your Current Institution: Winning the 2019 Empire 8 Championship at Stevens.
Who Was Your Biggest Mentor and Why: Jim Berkman, Salisbury University head men's lacrosse coach. I spent six years as an assistant coach with him at Salisbury. He is the best coach in the game of lacrosse, a father figure, and the best motivator of young men I have ever met.
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator: Seeing student-athletes grow and learn during their time in college. The maturation process and helping kids through this is fascinating and extremely rewarding. To then see them become great husbands, fathers, and successful in their professional and personal lives is what it is all about.
What Have You Learned About Yourself as a Leader and In Your Role: I am more of a facilitator than anything. We are a very culture-oriented program and so much of the time we spend together is off the field. The reality is our guys spend a whole lot more time around each other than they do us so it is about developing your leaders and all team members to hold each other accountable to a standard.
What Type of Leader Are You: I am a teacher first and foremost. I was an education major in college, so finding creative ways to teach and motivate young men in positive way is my true passion.
What Are Some Positive Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic You Have Experienced? This has been just another opportunity to learn and grow – that is what all adversity is. Life is not all rainbows and butterflies, so what defines is how we react in tough situations like this.
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About You: I love to fly fish.
Advice for First-Year Student-Athletes: Figuring out how to successfully manage your free time will be the key to your success both in the classroom and on the field.
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes: Reach out your network that your college and sport have. There are a lot of people out there that want to help you succeed if you are willing to put in the work.
The Empire 8 Conference's “Today’s Leaders Compete Here” Series features a coach or administrator from one of its member institutions who exemplifies leadership.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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