Softball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach/Pitching
- Email:
- cbarclay@unc.edu
- Phone:
- 919-962-6000
Chelsey Dobbins, née Barclay, joined the North Carolina softball program as the Tar Heels' assistant coach in September 2015 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2018. Barclay serves as UNC's pitching coach, while also working on baserunning.
Throughout her time at Carolina, Dobbins has guided UNC’s pitchers to NFCA and ACC honors while helping the Tar Heel runners reset the single-season stolen base record four consecutive seasons.
In her first season with the Tar Heels in 2016, Dobbins helped transform junior Kendra Lynch into an everyday starter. After two seasons seeing limited action in the circle, Lynch had a breakout junior campaign, earning All-ACC First Team and three ACC Pitcher of the Week honors, while setting four Carolina single-season records. Additionally, Dobbins had a tremendous impact on the Tar Heels' baserunning, leading Carolina from just 29 stolen bases in 2015 to a program-record 102 in 2016, including the first-ever pair of Tar Heels to record 25+ steals in the same season (Destiny DeBerry-33, Aquilla Mateen-26).
Carolina's baserunning improved further in 2017, as UNC once again broke its own record with 106 stolen bases as a team. Leah Murray led the ACC with 38 swipes, while a total of five Tar Heels had 10 or more for the first time ever. Barclay mentored a deep pitching staff in 2017, which included three true freshmen in the circle. Rookie lefty Brittany Pickett emerged as UNC's ace under Barclay's leadership, excelling in the circle and at the plate to rank in the top 10 in the ACC in 17 statistical categories and become the ACC Freshman of the Year and a Top-10 Finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year.
In 2018, UNC reset its stolen base record for the third consecutive year to 116 with five Tar Heels with double-digit bases, led by Leah Murray’s ACC-best 34. Dobbins guided Carolina’s ace Brittany Pickett to All-ACC first team honors, ranking second nationally in wins, eighth in shutouts and 29th in strikeouts.
Further improving their base-running in 2019, the Tar Heels reset their season total for the fourth-straight season to 124 with six Tar Heels stealing double-digit bases. Additionally, Dobbins mentored Pickett to her third All-ACC first team honor and NFCA All-Southeast Region second-team selection, and freshman Hannah George to ACC All-Freshmen Team honors. Dobbins guided UNC pitchers to 15 shutouts – the most since 2012.
Dobbins came to Carolina after two seasons as the pitching coach at Cal Poly where she developed some of the top pitchers in school history. During her first season with the Mustangs, Cal Poly's 2014 rotation led the Big West Conference and ranked 27th among more than 300 NCAA Division I programs with a 2.13 ERA. The Mustang rotation also led the Big West in strikeouts (311 and 5.92 per game) and fewest home runs (23) and earned runs (113) allowed.
Under Dobbins, Mustang right-hander Sierra Hyland was named 2014 Big West Pitcher of the Year after finishing 13th nationally in strikeouts (263) and 15th in victories (26).
Dobbins served as an assistant and pitching coach at Marshall from 2011-13. She capped her tenure in Huntington, West Virginia, by helping the Thundering Herd to a 36-22 overall mark, the program's first Conference USA championship and an appearance in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Marshall's 2013 pitching staff ranked 34th among NCAA Division I programs with a 2.25 ERA. During each of Barclay's final two seasons with Marshall, the Herd pitching staff finished among the top-three Conference USA programs in ERA, strikeouts and opposing batting average.
Prior to her time at Marshall, Dobbins served as the graduate assistant pitching coach at Louisiana-Monroe for the 2010 season.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Dobbins earned Horizon League All-Newcomer team praise during her 2004 freshman season at Illinois-Chicago, in addition to helping the Flames to the NCAA Tournament.
After transferring to West Valley College (Saratoga, Calif.), Dobbins was named NorCal Pitcher of the Year after winning 22 times and compiling a 0.54 ERA. She continued her collegiate career at Oklahoma State (2006-07) before graduating with degree in elementary education.
Last Updated: Jan. 2021
