The 2020-21 season marked the eighth for Lauren Dobashi on The Farm, and her second as the Director of Operations for Men's and Women's Golf. She came to Stanford in 2013.
As the Director of Operations, Dobashi wears many hats to serve both programs. She serves as the Tournament Director for the Stanford Intercollegiate (women's) and The Goodwin (men's) that the Cardinal programs host each season. She is also the primary events coordinator for all of the events that Stanford Golf hosts throughout the year with alumni, donors and other constituents. She is the program's main liaison with donors and alums alike.
In her day-to-day role with the program, Dobashi assists both coaching staffs with all of their needs, including managing the accounting and program budgets. She assists with on-campus recruiting, including creating personalized content for incoming and prospective recruits throughout the year.
Dobashi also serves as the Staff Director and Coordinator for the many golf camps the Cardinal programs host throughout the year at Siebel Varsity Training Complex.
During her six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach, the Cardinal women's golf team tallied six consecutive NCAA Championships appearances and won three straight NCAA Regional titles (2016-18). Stanford also advanced to the match play portion of the NCAA Championships each year since the format's inception in 2015.
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.
Dobashi helped the Cardinal to their 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.
During the 2017-18 season, Dobashi led 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 first-place finish at the NCAA San Francisco Regional, and went on to reach the semifinals at the NCAA Championships.
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.
In addition to her coaching duties, Dobashi oversaw team travel and helped coordinate recruiting and scheduling.
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.
During Dobashi''s tenure, Stanford produced 16 full-field victories and 17 All-Americans.
Dobashi arrived on The Farm after three seasons 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. She played her final two seasons for Anne Walker, who served as the Aggies’ head coach for four seasons. Dobashi earned degrees in graphic design and communications.
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 while sending two players to the U.S. Open and five into the professional ranks.
A 2010 graduate of UC Davis, 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 qualified for two U.S. Women's Amateur Championships.
Dobashi graduated with honors following her prep career at Rio Americano, where she was a four-time all-league selection and team captain as a senior.