June 27, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini has announced the employment of Howard Dobson as the school's fifth head softball coach, today, at a news conference held at the Athletic Center. His appointment and the terms of his contract are still subject to the approval of the IHL Board.

"We are extremely excited to have Howard Dobson join our staff," Giannini said. "His experience is outstanding on all levels of collegiate softball, and it is a real plus that he has coached for Conference USA. As the head recruiter and hitting coach at perennial collegiate power Oklahoma, it speaks volumes for his abilities. He will have a great impact on our softball program as well as our community."

Dobson, who recently completed his fifth season as assistant coach at Oklahoma, replaces Gay McNutt, who resigned after serving as the Golden Eagle head coach for seven years. Dobson comes to Southern Miss after helping the Sooners complete one of the most successful seasons in school history, finishing with an overall record of 55-8 and winning the Big 12 tournament championship for the third time in school history.

In his five years at OU, Dobson has been instrumental in continuing Oklahoma's national reputation as an offensive force. Since his arrival in 2003, the Sooners have been one of the top two teams in the conference in hitting percentage each year and have topped the conference every season in scoring. In addition, Dobson has coached seven players who garnered All-America honors and worked with 15 NFCA All-Midwest Region performers and 20 All-Big 12 honorees.

Prior to Oklahoma, the Orange, Texas, native helped establish Houston's softball program in 2000. In the program's first year, Dobson helped guide the team to a fifth-place finish in Conference USA. The 2002 team led the league in hits (480), runs scored (279), slugging percentage (.448), RBI (244) and home runs (47), narrowly missing the conference record of 49. During his two years at Houston, Dobson coached 10 all-conference honorees, including the 2002 Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

Dobson served as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana for two seasons before joining the Houston staff. With his help, two Lady Lions garnered all-region accolades.

Dobson began his softball coaching career at McNeese State as a volunteer assistant coach. At McNeese State, he worked with the Southland Conference's 1999 Hitter of the Year.

Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Barbe High School in Louisiana where he led the team to the state 5A title and directed one of its players to Miss Softball Louisiana honors. While at Barbe, seven of his players went on to compete at the Division I level, including nationally renowned programs LSU and DePaul.

"Southern Miss is hiring a bright, hard-working young man who has climbed the ranks of collegiate softball at some elite programs. I am delighted for Howard and his family as he has proven with his loyalty that he is deserving of this opportunity," LSU Head Softball Coach Yvette Girouard said.

Dobson also has gained valuable experience working at the collegiate skills camps during the summer and coaching on the international level. In the summer of 1999, his international team won the German Open with one of its players named tournament MVP.

A former all-conference performer at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, Dobson went on to finish his collegiate baseball career at McNeese State where he graduated with a degree in health and human performance and English in 1997.

Dobson and his wife Katharine have a two-year old son, Tripp.