ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- Chatham Dobbs, most recently a club coach at the renowned Dynamo Swim Club, has been named the new assistant swimming coach at New Mexico, announced head coach Naya Higashijima.
Chatham comes to UNM after a stint as a club coach at Dynamo Swim Club. Dynamo has produced multiple U.S. Olympians and Olympic medalists and is known as one of the best swim teams in the country.
“I am thrilled to have Chatham join the Lobos and help us continue our progress as a team. Hallie, Eric, and I searched for someone who can elevate our program and can positively impact our day-to-day operations,” said Higashijima. “Chatham has gained extensive knowledge from multiple highly accomplished programs from being not only a coach but also an athlete. His ability to manage a high-intensity, competitive environment will be a key driver of our program's future success. I am looking forward to seeing how we combine our strengths and level up.”
Higashijima added, “I would especially like to thank our support staff members who were involved in this hiring process. They helped us get clarity and showed Chatham how much they care about UNM Athletics. He is very intuitive and will be a great asset to our team.”
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Chatham was an outstanding student-athlete at the University of Arizona, receiving Arizona’s Male Athlete of the Year award. Chatham and Higashijima share a history, having worked together at SMU between 2022 and 2023, where he served as an assistant coach for the men’s squad.
Dobbs was an NCAA All-American in 2019 at the national championships in Austin, Texas. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arizona in 2019 with a degree in philosophy. That year, he was named Arizona’s male recipient of the Pac-12’s Tom Hansen Medal, awarded annually to each school’s outstanding senior male and female student-athlete for the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics, and leadership.
He also served as the primary coach for swimmer Gia Percolini, who won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
“I would like to thank Naya and everyone involved in the hiring process for the opportunity to join the University of New Mexico Swimming and Diving program,” said Dobbs. “It was clear from the beginning that UNM Athletics goes above and beyond in providing an invaluable student-athlete experience. I am grateful for the chance to contribute alongside it. I chose to pursue collegiate coaching because of the profound impact being a student-athlete had on my own life, and I am excited to help provide that same transformative experience for the next generation of Lobos.”
Dobbs added, “I have been fortunate to be mentored by an eclectic group of coaches throughout my life, each of whom taught me lessons that I carry with me every day. I want to extend my gratitude to Ian Murray (Dynamo Swim Club), Christian Bahr (Ensworth Aquatics), Greg Rhodenbaugh (SMU), Keith Dawley (USC), Augie Busch (Arizona), and Rick DeMont (Arizona) for their guidance and influence on my development as both a coach and a person. I am honored to join the Lobo family and excited to get to work. Go Lobos!"
What they are saying about Chatham Dobbs
Greg Rhodenbaugh - Head Coach for Southern Methodist University Men’s Swimming & Diving Team
"I am excited for Chatham Dobbs and the University of New Mexico. Chatham has had exceptional experience at the college and club levels, equipping him with invaluable tools for a great coaching career. He understands the importance of training at a very high level to be able to improve and compete at an elite level from his swimming days when he was an All-American for the University of Arizona."
Rick DeMont - Retired Head Coach for the University of Arizona Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Team
"Chatham is a loyal, big-hearted, intuitive, smart, creative, and passionate person. He will be a great addition to the University of New Mexico and its swimming and diving program. I look forward to seeing the Lobos thrive and continue their success."
Keith Dawley - Assistant Coach for the University of Southern California Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Team
“Chatham possesses a unique blend of knowledge, experience, and curiosity that will help him make an immediate impact with the Lobos. His positivity and genuine care for the student-athletes and coaches he works with are second to none, making everyone he meets feel seen, heard, and valued. I can't wait to see how quickly the Lobos will climb with Chatham now on board."