TYLER - UT Tyler softball head coach Mike Reed has announced that Megan Dobrinski and Christy Gipson will be joining the Patriots’ coaching staff for the 2011 season, filling key roles as the team looks to make a return trip to the NCAA Championships.

“We are very fortunate to have two solid coaches joining our staff for this season,” Reed said. “Coach Dobrinski and Coach Gipson know what it takes to be nationally competitive and will enhance all aspects our program.”

Dobrinski will work primarily with slappers, outfielders, and play an important role in recruiting efforts.

Dobrinski spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Southwestern Oklahoma State where she coached five all-Lone Star Conference players and another seven who were named to the Lone Star Conference’s Scholar-Athlete list.

Working with the slappers, Dobrinski had three players boasting a combined average of .384. The team’s leading hitter, Tori Joyner, was named LSC-North Co-Freshman of the Year and First Team All-LSC. Her 76 hits and 52 runs were the most in single season school history, while her .450 average was the second highest in program history.

A native of Chandler, Texas, Dobrinski played collegiately at Lon Morris Community College for two seasons before transferring to SWOSU. A two-year standout who started in 86 of 90 games played, Dobrinski was twice named an All-LSC Honorable Mention for the Bulldogs.

Gipson returns to the UT Tyler staff after taking the 2010 season off.  She initially joined the Patriots in 2007 and was part of the 2009 NFCA West Region Coach Staff of the Year which led UT Tyler to an NCAA West Region title and a solid run in the National Championships, making her extremely familiar coaching pitchers on a nationally-competitive level.   

Gipson, a former pitcher and shortstop, will work primarily with pitchers and middle infielders.

During her playing career, Gipson was one of the most dominant softball players ever to play in the American Southwest Conference. Gipson was recruited to East Texas Baptist by Reed before he left ETBU to come to UT Tyler.  She was a two-time ASC Player of the Year and a First Team All-ASC and All-Academic every year of her career.  She was also a four-year honoree on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region Team, as well as a two-time NFCA All-American.

Gipson finished her career as ETBU's all-time leader in hits, at-bats, runs, doubles, triples, and batting average.  In 2006, she received an award from the NCAA for being the toughest player to strike out in the nation.  In her 151 plate appearances that year, she batted .404 with 47 runs scored, and did not strike out a single time.

Gipson's achievements extended into the classroom as well.  In addition to her All-Academic awards and five appearances on the Dean's List with honors, she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team in the spring of 2007.  Gipson holds a degree from ETBU in University Studies and from UT Tyler in nursing.

The Patriots have made three-straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament – every year the program has been eligible - and were the 2010 ASC East Division champions.