coaching staff
DanO’BRIEN Director of Football Operations • Second Season
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Born May 16, 1963 Hometown Winthrop, Minn.
In his second season with the Minnesota program after spending nearly six years as director of athletics at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.
High School Winthrop
Led Hamline athletic department which saw its number of student-athletes competing in the postseason rise from one to 121 during his tenure.
Alma Mater St. Thomas, 1987
Under O’Brien’s leadership, 23 Hamline teams qualified for MIAC or national postseason play or finished the season in the top four in the conference.
Family wife, Chris; daughter, Brittany; sons, Shay, Casey
Served at Concordia-St. Paul from 1995-2002 in capacities which included head football coach and director of athletics.
Instrumental in taking Golden Bears from NAIA level to NCAA Division II.
Led Concordia-St. Paul to its first two football wins as a member of NCAA Division II.
Began tenure at Concordia as assistant head football coach. Served as head coach in 1999 and 2000, while also working as director of athletics.
Has worked at the NAIA, NCAA Division III, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I levels.
Was named head coach at Bemidji High School in 1993.
O’Brien At A Glance
The O’Brien family
Coaching/Administrative Experience 2008Minnesota Director of Football Operations 2002-07 Hamline University Director of Athletics 1999-2002 Concordia-St. Paul Director of Athletics 1999-2000 Concordia-St. Paul Head Football Coach 1995-1999 Concordia-St. Paul Assistant Head Football Coach 1993-1995 Bemidji High School Head Football Coach 1989-1993 Lakeville High School Assistant Coach 1987-1989 Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School Asst. Coach
Began coaching career as an assistant at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School in 1987. Served as an assistant coach at Lakeville High School, beginning in 1989.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PLAYER
Earned All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors as a defensive back at the University of St. Thomas.
Played for St. Thomas for three seasons, serving as a team captain during his final two years.
Earned all-conference honors at Normandale Community College and played in the Midwest Bowl.
171 * Minnesota Football