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Football
- Title:
- Run Defense Coordinator & Linebackers
- Email:
- dobes@princeton.edu
Don Dobes, a 1979 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan, is in his 16th year as the Tigers’ linebackers coach. He added the title of run defense coordinator in 2000, and he recently graduated one of the finest groups of linebackers in the recent history of the program. A senior-laden group, including first-team All-Ivy selections Justin Stull and Abi Fadeyi, helped Princeton finish as the No. 1 scoring defense in the league in 2005.
Stull went on to be signed by the Washington Redskins in the offseason. He was the second former Dobes’ protege in as many years to sign in the NFL, as 2004 first-team All-Ivy pick Zak Keasey also signed with the Redskins and now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
During the 2006 championship season, Dobes put together a cast of new starting linebackers, including eventual All-Ivy selection Brig Walker, 2006 co-captain Luke Steckel and 2007 co-captain Jon Stem. Walker and 2007 first-team All-Ivy selection Tim Boardman shared the team lead in tackles that season, and Boardman led the team in stops again last season.
During the last 15 seasons, Dobes has developed one of most highly respected and honored units in the Ivy League. Under his direction a total of 24 Tiger linebackers have earned All-Ivy recognition, including 1995 Bushnell Cup winner Dave Patterson. In addition, 10 of the last 15 Princeton defensive captains have been linebackers.
Two of his All-Ivy linebackers will lead the 2009 Princeton defense this season. Junior Steven Cody led Princeton and ranked seventh in the Ivy League with 85 tackles, while senior Scott Britton finished second on the team and eighth in the Ivy League with 81 tackles.
Dobes has coached the Ivy League leader in tackles in two of the last five seasons. Stull led the Ivy League with 114 tackles in 2003 and would have led the league in 2004 with 106 tackles if not for Keasey, who led all Ivy players with 127 tackles.
Dobes came to Princeton after helping Rowan to the 1993 NCAA Division III championship game. Before his stint at Rowan, he was the offensive coordinator at Temple for four years and spent three seasons in a similar capacity at Rice.
Dobes coached at Penn from 1981 to 1986, spending his first three seasons as head freshman coach and compiling a 15-3 record. He then coached the linebackers and offensive linemen/tight ends, helping to turn a struggling program into four-time Ivy league champions.
A two-year letterwinner as well as an all-conference and academic all-state selection at Illinois Wesleyan, Dobes began his playing career at Northern Michigan, where he was part of a Division II national championship team of 1975. Dobes earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education before receiving a master of arts in education from DePauw University in 1983.
Dobes, who lives in Princeton, N.J., has four children: Stefanie, who graduated from Princeton in 2007, Russell, a senior at Burlington County College, Kevin, a junior defensive back on the Princeton football team, and Trent, a senior at Delran High School.
RECRUITING AREAS
Northern California (area codes 209, 408, 415, 510, 530, 559, 650, 707, 831, 916, 925), Indiana, Illinois, Missouri
