Joe Dolby began in his role as the head coach of Academy of Art men's golf in September 2023.
In his first year as a Head Coach, Dolby coached his team to a third place finish at the Pacific West Conference Championship as he watched Giulio Zanichelli and Jack DeBenedetti receive their All-Tournament Team awards for finishing within the top 10 of the tournament (both T3rd). Dolby coached his players to reaching the individual top 15 on 14 occasions, and additionally led the team to a tournament win at the PCH Invitational on Feb. 13. Dolby then further extended the season by coaching Zanichelli through the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regionals where he’d finish with yet another third place finish to punch his ticket to the NCAA Division II National Championship. Dolby coached Zanichelli into earning the PacWest Golfer of the Year and PacWest Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards as he was additionally placed on the All-PacWest First Team.
An accomplished golf professional and coach, Dolby brings more than 13 years of player development experience into his position helming ART U. Having recently finished his third season with the Santa Clara men’s golf team, Dolby comes off an assistant coach stint that saw the Broncos elevate their team ranking more than 60 spots into the top 100. Notching seven top-five team finishes including back-to-back results at the last two West Coast Conference Championship Tournaments, SCU also had 11 Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholars as well as GCAA PING All-West Region Team and All-WCC Team honorees in that time.
A former first assistant golf professional at Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club, Dolby implemented a best-in-class and all-encompassing junior golf program for over 100 students who achieved success on the LPGA Tour as well as the NCAA Division I and AJGA levels. He has also served as the PGA assistant golf professional and junior golf development coach at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif. since 2020.
Dolby turned professional in 2006, competing on mini tours before earning his PGA Class A membership in 2010. He is an active member of the Northern California PGA Section, winning the NCPGA Assistant Professional of the Year award in 2013, and the NCPGA Assistant Division Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011. He also competed in the PGA Professional National Championship in 2011 and the 2011 and 2020 PGA Assistant Professional Championship.
A graduate of UC San Diego, Dolby spent four years on the golf team, leading the Tritons to the 2004 NCAA Division II Championship, their first-ever appearance. He was an NCAA All-American Scholar in 2004 and 2005 as well as All-CCAA Team in 2005 before earning his bachelor’s degree in Biology.
