After the recent retirement of coaching legend James Ramsey, Aubrey Independent School District has named Tatum Dobson as the new face of the Lady Chaparrals Softball Program.
Dobson arrived in Aubrey in 2025 as an assistant coach with the Lady Chaps’ volleyball and softball teams and now has the opportunity to write her own chapter in Aubrey ISD’s history books.
“We couldn't be more excited or more proud for her to come in and take over the head softball job here in Aubrey,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “We’ve had a great deal of success and tradition here, and she's following two great legends, Coach [Shon] Ranton and Coach Ramsey, but I know she's ready for the job, and we’re excited for it.”
Dobson graduated from Little Elm High School, where she played softball, before joining the Lady Eagles’ softball program at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
After two seasons with the Lady Eagles, Dobson transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University and earned her bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in education.
Dobson started her coaching career at Lindsay Independent School District, where she served as head softball coach and an assistant coach with the Lady Knights’ volleyball and basketball teams.
Dobson said she was inspired to join the Chaparrals’ athletic program when the assistant softball coaching position under Ramsey became available last year.
“I had previously coached against [him] while he was at Collinsville during my first year of coaching, and I thought, ‘What better way could I grow my knowledge of the game and learn to be a better head coach than to come here and work with him for a year or two?’” she said.
She said that Ramsey’s tutelage went a long way toward expanding her coaching expertise.
“I saw so many different variations of drills and knowledge that he had to offer, and he showed me a different side of the game,” Dobson said. “He’s a big defensive coach, and that’s something I was looking to learn. I'm a big offensive coach myself, so he taught me to see things from more of a defensive and pitching [perspective], which was great to learn.”
Over the last three decades the Lady Chaparrals’ softball program amassed over 600 wins, 16 district titles and three state runner- up finishes under Ranton and Ramsey, and Dobson said she feels confident she can help continue Aubrey’s legacy of winning.
“It’s just a little intimidating, but we have the right guidance here,” she said. “The administration here is great, and I have multiple coaches that have been great mentors for me, and I know how to utilize my resources, so if I need [help] with anything, all I have to is ask.”
She also offered a message to Aubrey’s parents and athletes.
“I want to win ball games, but I want everybody to know that I will always treat their kids as human beings first, then students and then athletes, and I can’t wait to get started,” Dobson said.
Aubrey ISD Superintendent Dr. Shannon Saylor shared her thoughts on the district’s newest head coach.
“I met her a year ago when she came here as an assistant volleyball coach, and her relationships and rapport with the kids were phenomenal, and she has the ability to build [them] up,” she said. “She’s got an excitement for the youth, and she’s somebody who can come into our softball coaching position and bring the kids along.”
