Lauren Dobashi is in her fourth season as the San Diego State head coach.
Dobashi came to The Mesa in August of 2021 after eight seasons with national power Stanford. While an assistant and associate head coach with the Cardinal from 2014-19, Dobashi (pronounced doh-BOSH-ee) helped Stanford to a national title in 2015 and six consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, including three straight NCAA regional titles (2016-18). The Cardinal also advanced to the match play portion of the NCAA Championships each year since the format's inception in 2015 as Stanford produced 16 full-field victories and 17 All-Americans during her tenure.
“I am so excited to be a part of the Aztec family!” Dobashi said upon her hiring. “I would like to thank the search committee and specifically John David Wicker and Derek Grice for providing me this opportunity. I was impressed with the energy, the camaraderie, and the support and resources provided to the student-athletes, but what really sold me was San Diego State’s passion to provide a well-rounded experience for the student-athlete. I look forward to continuing to build on the foundation that Coach Spalding established. I am excited to lead the San Diego State women’s golf program and to work with these talented young ladies to help them achieve success on and off the golf course.”
“I am excited to welcome Lauren to the Aztec family,” Wicker said when announcing Dobashi’s hire. “Our women’s golf team has achieved great success over the past number of years and Lauren’s experiences at UC Davis and Stanford will allow her to take our team to the next level. She stood out during the interview process as someone who is passionate about the entire student-athlete experience and ensuring the young women find success on the course and in the classroom, and are ready to succeed upon graduation.”
Dobashi was named the 2017-18 Golf Pride Grips WGCA Assistant Coach of the Year and served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2019, while leading the team during head coach Anne Walker's prolonged absence. The Cardinal finished third or better in each of its events throughout season, including a victory at the NCAA San Francisco Regional and a semifinal appearance at the NCAA Championships.
In her first season with the Cardinal, Dobashi was part of a Cardinal program that won the 2014 Pac-12 Conference title, the second in program history (1999). The feat came against a premier field which made the league championships one of the best showcases of collegiate golf. Six Pac-12 teams were ranked among the top 11 in the nation heading into the tournament, including defending NCAA champion and top-ranked USC.
The following season (2014-15) Dobashi helped Stanford capture the NCAA title by beating Baylor, 3-2, in the first-ever match play format for women. The Cardinal defeated Pac-12 rivals Arizona and top-ranked USC to reach the finals.
Stanford finished as national runner-up to Washington in 2015-16, and tied for third in 2016-17, losing 3-2 to eventual champion Arizona State in the semifinals. Dobashi helped the Cardinal to its fifth straight NCAA Championship match play appearance in 2018-19, where Stanford lost to Duke, 3&2, on a 24th-hole playoff in the final match.
In addition to her coaching duties, Dobashi oversaw team travel and helped coordinate recruiting and scheduling.
Dobashi spent the last 2020 and 2021 seasons as Stanford’s director of operations, working with both the women’s and men’s programs. Dobashi served as the tournament director for the Stanford Intercollegiate (women's) and The Goodwin (men's) that the Cardinal programs host each season. She was also the primary events coordinator for the events that Stanford golf hosts throughout the year with alumni, donors and other constituents, while serving as the program's main liaison with donors and alums.
Dobashi also assisted both coaching staffs, including managing the accounting and program budgets. Additionally, Dobashi assisted with on-campus recruiting, including creating personalized content for incoming and prospective recruits throughout the year. She also served as the staff director and coordinator for the Cardinal golf camps.
Dobashi arrived at Stanford following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at UC Davis, where she helped the Aggies achieve a top 10 national ranking, three consecutive individual and team Big West titles, and three consecutive Big West Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
A native of Gold River, Calif., Dobashi was a four-year letter winner at UC Davis, playing the final two seasons for Anne Walker, who served as the Aggies’ head coach for four seasons. One of the program's first recruits when women’s golf was established in 2005, Dobashi helped UC Davis transition to Division I. The Aggies won nine tournaments and sent two players to the U.S. Open and five into the professional ranks.
A 2010 graduate of UC Davis with degrees in graphic design and communications, Dobashi was a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Award, presented to the student-athlete with outstanding academics, athletic achievement and community involvement. She also qualified for two U.S. Women's Amateur Championships.
Dobashi replaced Leslie Spalding, who retired after leading San Diego State to two Mountain West titles, seven consecutive NCAA regional appearances and eight regional appearances in nine chances with the Aztecs.
Dobashi came to The Mesa in August of 2021 after eight seasons with national power Stanford. While an assistant and associate head coach with the Cardinal from 2014-19, Dobashi (pronounced doh-BOSH-ee) helped Stanford to a national title in 2015 and six consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, including three straight NCAA regional titles (2016-18). The Cardinal also advanced to the match play portion of the NCAA Championships each year since the format's inception in 2015 as Stanford produced 16 full-field victories and 17 All-Americans during her tenure.
“I am so excited to be a part of the Aztec family!” Dobashi said upon her hiring. “I would like to thank the search committee and specifically John David Wicker and Derek Grice for providing me this opportunity. I was impressed with the energy, the camaraderie, and the support and resources provided to the student-athletes, but what really sold me was San Diego State’s passion to provide a well-rounded experience for the student-athlete. I look forward to continuing to build on the foundation that Coach Spalding established. I am excited to lead the San Diego State women’s golf program and to work with these talented young ladies to help them achieve success on and off the golf course.”
“I am excited to welcome Lauren to the Aztec family,” Wicker said when announcing Dobashi’s hire. “Our women’s golf team has achieved great success over the past number of years and Lauren’s experiences at UC Davis and Stanford will allow her to take our team to the next level. She stood out during the interview process as someone who is passionate about the entire student-athlete experience and ensuring the young women find success on the course and in the classroom, and are ready to succeed upon graduation.”
Dobashi was named the 2017-18 Golf Pride Grips WGCA Assistant Coach of the Year and served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2019, while leading the team during head coach Anne Walker's prolonged absence. The Cardinal finished third or better in each of its events throughout season, including a victory at the NCAA San Francisco Regional and a semifinal appearance at the NCAA Championships.
In her first season with the Cardinal, Dobashi was part of a Cardinal program that won the 2014 Pac-12 Conference title, the second in program history (1999). The feat came against a premier field which made the league championships one of the best showcases of collegiate golf. Six Pac-12 teams were ranked among the top 11 in the nation heading into the tournament, including defending NCAA champion and top-ranked USC.
The following season (2014-15) Dobashi helped Stanford capture the NCAA title by beating Baylor, 3-2, in the first-ever match play format for women. The Cardinal defeated Pac-12 rivals Arizona and top-ranked USC to reach the finals.
Stanford finished as national runner-up to Washington in 2015-16, and tied for third in 2016-17, losing 3-2 to eventual champion Arizona State in the semifinals. Dobashi helped the Cardinal to its fifth straight NCAA Championship match play appearance in 2018-19, where Stanford lost to Duke, 3&2, on a 24th-hole playoff in the final match.
In addition to her coaching duties, Dobashi oversaw team travel and helped coordinate recruiting and scheduling.
Dobashi spent the last 2020 and 2021 seasons as Stanford’s director of operations, working with both the women’s and men’s programs. Dobashi served as the tournament director for the Stanford Intercollegiate (women's) and The Goodwin (men's) that the Cardinal programs host each season. She was also the primary events coordinator for the events that Stanford golf hosts throughout the year with alumni, donors and other constituents, while serving as the program's main liaison with donors and alums.
Dobashi also assisted both coaching staffs, including managing the accounting and program budgets. Additionally, Dobashi assisted with on-campus recruiting, including creating personalized content for incoming and prospective recruits throughout the year. She also served as the staff director and coordinator for the Cardinal golf camps.
Dobashi arrived at Stanford following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at UC Davis, where she helped the Aggies achieve a top 10 national ranking, three consecutive individual and team Big West titles, and three consecutive Big West Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
A native of Gold River, Calif., Dobashi was a four-year letter winner at UC Davis, playing the final two seasons for Anne Walker, who served as the Aggies’ head coach for four seasons. One of the program's first recruits when women’s golf was established in 2005, Dobashi helped UC Davis transition to Division I. The Aggies won nine tournaments and sent two players to the U.S. Open and five into the professional ranks.
A 2010 graduate of UC Davis with degrees in graphic design and communications, Dobashi was a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Award, presented to the student-athlete with outstanding academics, athletic achievement and community involvement. She also qualified for two U.S. Women's Amateur Championships.
Dobashi replaced Leslie Spalding, who retired after leading San Diego State to two Mountain West titles, seven consecutive NCAA regional appearances and eight regional appearances in nine chances with the Aztecs.