DENVER, COLO. (September 17, 2014) – Former Ohio State University Associate Head Coach Dave Dobbins has left The Buckeyes to become Director of Connecticut for 3d Lacrosse, the nation’s fastest-growing lacrosse training, events and club team operations Company. 3d Lacrosse already serves hundreds of athletes in the Connecticut and Tri-State area. He will also bring his considerable experience in community service to help develop 3d Lacrosse’s burgeoning social responsibility efforts headed by John Bayreuther, 3d Lacrosse’s Director of Club Player Advancement.
Dobbins is also the fourth in a string of 3d Lacrosse’s latest hires from the professional and/or NCAA Division I ranks.
“We are committed to recruiting talented, conscientious and knowledgeable coaches to 3d Lacrosse,” said Greg Waldbaum, the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “3d Lacrosse offers a new, wide-ranging career path for the best and brightest in the field. It’s a game-changer for training and club team development play.”
Dobbins, a member of the Ohio State men’s lacrosse staff for the last five years, served as their associate head coach in 2013-2014 after joining the program as an assistant coach in July 2009. Throughout Dobbins tenure, the Buckeyes won the 2013 Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. In 2014, the team reigned as the ECAC regular season champions.
Dave Dobbins also spearheaded the program’s community service efforts, with the team volunteering more than 1,800 hours over the last three years. In addition, he oversaw his players’ academic efforts with 21 Ohio State Scholar-Athletes in 2013. Though social responsibility initiatives have long been a part of OSU lacrosse, Dobbins organized community assistance at three levels: full-team activities, small-group projects and single-player participation. Beneficiaries included Habitat for Humanity, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, the Second and Seven Foundation (which boosts childhood literacy) and Friends of Jacyln, in which the team adopted an ill child who attended their games, while in return, players made hospital visits and more.
Dobbins said, “We tried to cover all our community bases, helping military veterans, the elderly, food banks, children and others. Developing players into responsible citizens and watching them grow academically is as important, if not more important than the on-field aspects of coaching. Division I athletes already have a very demanding schedule so we involved players using whatever time we had available.”
3d Lacrosse’s community involvement includes an online check-out donation program with Children’s Hospital Colorado, relationships with organizations such as Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership and MetroLacrosse (Boston), and numerous day-of-service projects throughout New England.
3d Lacrosse CEO Jamie Munro noted that “Dave embodies all the qualities we look for in leadership at 3d Lacrosse. While everyone likes to win, Dave is not a ‘win at all costs’ coach – he’s not a screamer. He truly believes in developing long-term relationships with players whom he treats like family and helps them grow into truly great, responsible adults.”
Dobbins was recruited to Ohio State after serving six years as an assistant coach at Salisbury University (Md.) where he was named the 2005 Division III Assistant Coach of the Year. The Sea Gulls won four Division III National Championships and were a national runner-up once under Dobbins’ purview. Prior to joining the Salisbury staff, Dobbins coached two seasons at the middle and high school levels in New York.
A four-year letter winner at Colgate University, Dobbins earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Colgate in 2001 and his master’s degree in education from Salisbury in 2005. He taught high school mathematics at two Salisbury-area high schools for five years and participated in youth lacrosse camps and clinics throughout his early career.
