Coach Dobbins has shown tremendous dedication to Peace and the softball program during his tenure. He is the longest serving coach at Peace and has over 500 wins for the program. He has grown the program from the ground up, not only by winning games and developing players, but by building a place where players want to come and play for him because of his passion for the game. He has poured his time, money, sweat, tears, and love into building a field, and program, that is respected and well known in college softball. Over the course of his time at Peace he has produced 135 USA South All-Conference Selections, 245 USA South Academic All-Conference Honors, 122 NFCA Academic All-Conference Selections, 19 NCAA All-Region Selections, 1 NCAA All-American Honors, and 17 North Carolina All-State Selections.

In addition to coaching at WPU, Dobbins has served on several committees including the NFCA/USA Today Division III Top 25 Committee, the NFCA Division III All-America and Coaching Staff of the Year Committee. Coach Dobbins finished his term as the Atlantic Region Representative to the NCAA Division III National Softball Committee in 2017. He served 6 years on the National Committee. Dobbins also helped organize William Peace University’s hosting of the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Division III National Championships, the only N.C.-based University to host a national softball championship at any level. He has been an integral part of orchestrating the annual Triangle Softball Classic as well, in which WPU has hosted numerous colleges and universities over the past 14 years. He was inducted into the USA Softball Hall of  honor in 2019.

An accomplished softball player in his own right, Dobbins toured with the World famous King and His Court and King of Diamonds fast-pitch teams and helped retire the "Court" in 2011, ending a 65-year run of touring that covered over 4 million miles, 14,000 games, and over 100 countries. As their “catcher” the last 10 years, he caught the last pitch in the last game ever played.

Dobbins’ playing experience gives him a unique perspective and helps him communicate effectively with his players. He uses a hands-on approach with his team, focusing on goal setting and player development.

I know all of this about Coach Dobbins for many reasons, one being that I played for him at Peace for 4 years. The biggest reason I know all this is because Charlie Dobbins is my dad. I have been there since the beginning, watching him transform the dirt lot in Halifax Court into the one of the nicest on campus fields, especially in the middle of a large city. I have watched and followed him to softball tournaments all over the country to recruit the best players to come join his program. I watched as year over year these girls chose to come to Peace, a school they had never heard about before, just because they loved how the coach ran his program. All he had to do was get them to come visit campus on a game day and they were sold.  I chose Peace for the same reasons. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Peace has given so much to our family over the years; it's been a second home. I even got married on the softball field!

Peace is not only my family, my dad has made sure to do his part to give back to his community and make them part of the Peace family. Every year he hosts an annual strike out cancer 'pink' game where he raises money for cancer patients and organizations. He invites survivors or those fighting to come and throw out the first pitch. For the last several years his team volunteers with the Miracle League of Raleigh by going to games and working with the team members. This year they invited them to the games at Peace on March 3rd and they had a great time. He hosts youth softball camps and brings in other coaches from local Colleges and Universities to build the softball community up and show what it means and takes to be a college athlete.  

Coach Dobbins has just announced that he is retiring after this season. To show Dobbins the recognition he deserves, I had asked the University to name the softball field in his honor. I worked with the Athletic Director to communicate the request and justification to the President and Board of Directors. We were so sure that this would be a no-brainer and started preparing for the event only to be told this week that our request was denied. I am heartbroken. The only reasoning I have been given is that eventually the softball field will be moved off campus due to the 'master plan' for Peace's expansion, and naming a field wouldn’t be prudent. I have tried to make it clear to them that we don't care how long the field stays, be it 6 months or 6 more years, we just want to recognize the person who built it, and everything around it, for the last 25 years. We aren't asking the University for any money, just their support. I just want to hang a sign and give something back to the person who gives so much. 

If you agree that Coach Dobbins deserves to have the field named for him after serving as the coach for 25 years, please sign this petition and show your support! We will be honoring him regardless at the games on March 29th 2024; the games are at 1pm and 3pm, we will honor him between games