Back in the Big 12 and Close to Home

By: D. Scott Fritchen

Kansas State head women's soccer coach Colleen Corbin is keeping the good vibes flowing as she prepares for her second season in Manhattan after a riveting debut campaign in which school records fell like dominoes across the field at Buser Family Park.

K-State in 2025 enjoyed its first winning record in school history and broke 48 other school records including wins in a season (seven), goals in a season (23) and shutouts (nine).

Earlier this month, Corbin hired Maddie Dobyns as goalkeepers coach, defensive game-planning specialist and key recruiter for the Wildcats in 2026 after Dobyns enjoyed successful stints on coaching staffs at Kentucky, Iowa State, Cincinnati and her alma mater of Kansas.

Dobyns was a part of a Kentucky program that went 21-8-11 in her two seasons in 2024 and 2025 with a 2025 NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2024, the Wildcats won nine games for their most wins in a season since 2015, and they advanced to the SEC Tournament for the first time under the 10-team format and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Dobyns is used to coaching talent. Kentucky goalkeeper Marz Josephson had nine shutouts and a 0.62 goals against average that led the SEC and ranked third in school history. Kentucky allowed just 12 goals in 2025, which were the fewest goals allowed in single-season history.

Still, Dobyns felt a calling. And the proud Jayhawk moved to Manhattan to become a Wildcat coach.

"I really enjoyed and respected the people I worked with at Kentucky," Dobyns says. "We had a lot of success and had some incredible goalkeepers who I was able to work with there. I have a huge respect to them because I don't think I'd be here without them, but you look at the records K-State has broken and the fact that it's close to home, and it's hard to say no to all of those things combined."

Dobyns, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, starred as goalkeeper at Kansas in 2013-17 and finished her career at KU ranked second with a 1.06 goals against average, third with 14 shutouts and fourth with 29 wins. She faced K-State one time in her career, albeit in a 1-o loss to the Wildcats on October 6, 2017, in Lawrence.

"Unfortunately, when you walk into this soccer building at K-State, there's a reminder every day of the goal that I was scored against," Dobyns says, chuckling.

Now she'll coach one of the best goalkeepers in the Big 12 Conference.

Maddie Sibbing, a junior from Lee's Summit, Missouri, was two-time Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week in 2025 and currently holds the school record for career goals against average (1.11) while ranking third in school history with seven career wins in her first season at K-State.

Meanwhile, Grace Pilling, a redshirt sophomore from Texas Tech, made a name for herself in her hometown of Preston, England while playing five seasons for Manchester City's U-14, U-16 and U-19 squads and helping lead her team to the 2022 finals.

"Maddie and Grace, I'm super excited to actually work with them because I haven't had a chance to work with them on the field yet," Dobyns says. "Obviously, Grace was at another Big 12 school before, and Maddie has been at two other institutions and showed very well at both of the places she's been. They're both outstanding players."

Following her KU playing career, Dobyns remained in Lawrence in 2018 and served as the team's director of operations and also began her coaching career working alongside Nicole Barnhart at KC Athletics. Barnhart is a former member of the U.S. Women's National Team and currently playing in the NWSL for the Utah Royals.

Dobyns also enjoyed coaching stints at Cincinnati (2019-21), Iowa State (2022-23) and Kentucky before joining K-State.

"This K-State women's soccer program didn't even exist when I was growing up, and that kind of just comes full circle of, I had no idea that coaching would be something that I'd enjoy or be successful at," Dobyns says. "That thought in my brain didn't even exist kind of like this program didn't, but I'm very excited and very fortunate to be in the position I'm in, and I'm very thankful for every person and my family and all the things that have come through my path to get me where I am now."

Maddie Dobyns spoke with K-State Sports Extra's D. Scott Fritchen about soccer and life as she embarks upon a new step in her journey as a member of the K-State coaching staff.

D. SCOTT FRITCHEN: Colleen Corbin says you have "proven to be one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the country." What all goes into being a very fine goalkeeper coach? And do you consider yourself to be one of the best in the country in women's soccer?

MADDIE DOBYNS: I definitely think there are much better than me, but, no, as far as going into it, so much of it is just trying to understand and I've been in the players' shoes, and fortunately not too long ago. I'm able to place myself in their shoes. I played in the Big 12, so I think that plays a huge factor in knowing what they're going through and seeing it from their point of view. I think that's one of the biggest pros of being able to be in the position I'm in. I always have places to grow. Obviously, I have some mentors that I look up to, and I'm fortunate to have people I can bounce ideas off of to be the best I can be.

FRITCHEN: What are the most important characteristics you look for in a goalkeeper?

DOBYNS: Personality and having a presence is the biggest thing. It's the stuff you can't coach. You can coach up some of the technical things and the tactical understanding is really hard to coach as well as just who they are as people. The things you can't coach are the biggest things I look for in a goalkeeper for sure.

FRITCHEN: Colleen mentions your methodology, coaching philosophy and expectations. Can you elaborate on your methodology, coaching philosophy and expectations?

DOBYNS: The biggest thing as far as expectations is all I want from a goalkeeper is to come in and put their best effort in every day. Goalkeeping, there's going to be mistakes, so making mistakes is one of the expectations I have. You never have something go completely perfect. As far as philosophy, what Colleen and the staff have done here is incredible in just empowering each other. There are so many mistakes that go into goalkeeping and being able to empower each other not just from the goalkeeping aspect but from the full team is a huge piece of being successful. Especially at this level, there's such demand and tax on these athletes, and just being able to come in every day and respect one another and just make each other better.

FRITCHEN: When did you meet the returning K-State goalkeepers for the first time? What are the names of the current goalkeepers on roster?

DOBYNS: Maddie and Grace are the two goalkeepers here. I'm super excited to actually work with them because I haven't had a chance to work with them on the field yet. Obviously, Grace was at another Big 12 school before, and Maddie has been at two other institutions and showed very well at both of the places she's been. They're both outstanding players that want to do the best they can. I'm excited to work with them and see what they're like on the field.

FRITCHEN: Colleen not only hired you as goalkeeper coach, but also for defensive game-planning and recruiting. From a defensive game-planning standpoint, what's your philosophy and what are some hallmarks of a Maddie Dobyns defense? What will it look like?

DOBYNS: From a goalkeeper coach, I want the least amount of shots on goal. Defensively, as much as you can do to prevent as many shots on goal is key because the fewer shots, the fewer saves you have to make and the better likelihood you won't get scored on. From a defensive standpoint, it's about taking angles to help your goalkeeper and being as organized as possible. In the Big 12, set pieces are a huge part of the game. You must be cognizant of where the set pieces are at and trying to have as few shots on goal as possible.

FRITCHEN: Recruiting, of course, is the lifeblood of sustaining a program. What's the key to being an effective recruiter in this day and age of collegiate athletics?

DOBYNS: Being able to spot talent is something that any college coach can do. You can go to a field and always spot a talent, but being able to find people who fit your program is a huge piece. There are thousands of phenomenal athletes out there but picking the ones who fit in with what Colleen has built here and with what the team she's trying to build through is the key to it.

FRITCHEN: Have you gotten a feel yet for how K-State soccer is perceived today through the eyes of 16, 17-year-old potential prospects? How receptive have recruits been?

DOBYNS: Social media is massive. Before I took this job, I saw all the social media and all the positive things that this staff has done. I'm not 15 or 17 years old, but I'm still impressed with all the things they've done on and off the field. You look at a college experience, and there's only so much of it spent on the field. You look at the stuff going on off the field, and I think that really draws in recruits. There's only a limited amount of time you get to spend in uniform on the field and so much of your experience with the team happens off the field. What Colleen and the staff has built here really draws in recruits.

FRITCHEN: You said upon your hiring that seeing K-State grow and the records broken last fall showed how special this place is. What was your perception of this program from afar prior to coming to K-State and compare that to how you feel right now that you're immersed within the program itself?

DOBYNS: When I played, K-State was just becoming a program as I was graduating. I only played against K-State one time in my career, and even back then, I thought the program itself was an awesome opportunity to build the Big 12. My perception was they're having fun. The business side is the soccer side, but having fun off the field is super important. Then you look at all the records they've broken and the intent that Colleen has put into everything and has pushed into the players, having intention behind everything is huge, and that shows in all aspects on the field and off the field.

FRITCHEN: When did Colleen approach you about this opportunity? What was your immediate reaction?

DOBYNS: She reached out a little bit before I got here. My immediate reaction is it's closer to home, which is a huge draw for me. Getting back to the conference that I played in was really exciting as well. I keep mentioning all the records they broke last year, but when you come in as a staff that first year and have all the success they had draws attention. I was really excited when she reached out just to be a part of something. You see all the records they've broken and to continue to be a part of that and see what we can do in the coming years, that's exciting. If you can do that in year one, it can continue to go up.

FRITCHEN: You helped Kentucky do big things in 2024 and 2025. How difficult was it to say goodbye to Kentucky?

DOBYNS: I really enjoyed and respected the people I worked with at Kentucky. We had a lot of success and had some incredible goalkeepers who I was able to work with there. The staff was incredible to work with. It's hard to leave a program, especially one where you've had success. I put a lot of credit to the goalkeepers for my success. They were a big part of the success that Colleen talks about with me as a coach. I have a huge respect to them because I don't think I'd be here without them, but you look at the records K-State has broken and the fact that it's close to home, and it's hard to say no to all of those things combined.

FRITCHEN: K-State will be your fourth current Big 12 team that you've served on with Iowa State (2022-23), Cincinnati (2019-21) and Kansas (2018). Including your two years at Kentucky, how do you feel each of these coaching stops made you a better coach?

DOBYNS: Cincinnati wasn't in the Big 12 when I was there, but everywhere I've been, I've been able to work with incredible goalkeepers. The SEC is similar with the Big 12 in that you look at teams that have made postseasons and both the SEC and the Big 12 have been in the top of those standings each time. I've been very fortunate. The goalkeepers just keep pushing me to be better. Everywhere I've been, I've been fortunate that the players have been good because that only helps me.

FRITCHEN: What do you believe is the identity of Big 12 women's soccer?

DOBYNS: The Big 12 is really cool in the sense that there are so many different styles of play. The conference has grown since I played in it. There are some other conferences that are known for certain styles of play, but the Big 12 has so many different styles, which is exciting as a coach because you get to play against so many different types of teams and formations and styles of play. That's a really exciting part of the Big 12 is that there are so many things you can play against.

FRITCHEN: You're no stranger to K-State having been a key player while at Kansas in 2013-17. You played against K-State on October 6, 2017, in Lawrence. How fierce is the Sunflower Showdown in women's soccer and what is the feeling now being on the other side of it?

DOBYNS: The Sunflower Showdown is exciting regardless of the sport. It's one of the coolest rivalries I've ever been a part of in any of my college jobs. Unfortunately, when you walk into this soccer building at K-State, there's a reminder every day of the goal that I was scored against. That's pretty cool from a recruiting standpoint to be able to stand in our building and say that goal was scored on me. It's one of the coolest rivalries in the college game. Regardless of what side I'm on, I'm excited to be back and be a part of that.

FRITCHEN: Did you grow up in Kansas City, Missouri, all your life?

DOBYNS: I did.

FRITCHEN: When did you pick up a soccer ball for the first time?

DOBYNS: I wish I could remember it. I think I was three or four.

FRITCHEN: Was soccer your first love growing up?

DOBYNS: Yes, I tried to play many different sports, and I hated them all, but soccer was the one that really stuck with me.

FRITCHEN: What interested you most in soccer?

DOBYNS: I actually played on the field for the longest time, and I really don't know what it was because I was always tall, so everybody assumed I'd be a basketball player. I don't know what it was about the sport, but I played on the field for the longest time, and around high school I really dove into goalkeeping and was partially pushed into it because I was tall. I wasn't particularly interested in goalkeeping, but it stuck, and it worked out for me.

FRITCHEN: At what point exactly did you believe that soccer could take you places?

DOBYNS: When I was playing at Kansas, to be honest. Halfway through my college career I started to realize that after college I might have some interest in it. My sophomore or junior year I really realized there could be something beyond just playing.

FRITCHEN: And now you're here in Manhattan. From that little girl growing up in Kansas City to where you are today, what has Maddie Dobyns learned most about herself during her journey?

DOBYNS: This program didn't even exist when I was growing up and that kind of just comes full circle of I had no idea that this would be something that I'd enjoy or be successful at. That thought in my brain didn't even exist kind of like this program didn't, but I'm very excited and very fortunate to be in the position I'm in and very thankful for every person and my family and all the things that have come through my path to get me where I am now. I wouldn't be here without my family, my coaches and teammates that have pushed me through, and it's made me who I am. Soccer got me through a lot of the harder things in my childhood, and now here I am where it's my livelihood.

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Grace Pilling

Maddie Sibbing

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