University of Scranton

• Landmark Conference Coach of the Year (2022-23)
• Finalist for WBCA National Coach of the Year in 2022-23
• NCAA Tournament Elite Eight (2023-24)
• NCAA Tournament Second Round (2022-23)
• Landmark Conference Champions (2022-23, 2023-24)
• Unbeaten Landmark season (14-0, 2022-23)
• Career Record: 56-4 (.933)

• Head Coach, The University of Scranton (2022-Present)
• Head Coach, Dunmore High School (2007-Present)

• B.A., History, Penn State University (2004)

In his second year at the helm of the Lady Royals, O'Brien guided the program to a 28-3 overall record, a ninth straight Landmark Conference title and NCAA Elite Eight run that included NCAA Tournament victories over Framingham St., Ohio Northern and Johns Hopkins. Sophomore Kaci Kranson earned WBCA All-American honors for a second consecutive year and freshman guard Meghan Lamanna was selected as the Landmark Rookie of the Year. 

O'Brien's hire paid immediate dividends in his first season at the helm as the Lady Royals went 28-1 (14-0 Landmark) and captured an eighth consecutive Landmark Conference championship in 2022-23. Scranton completed an unbeaten Landmark season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

The Lady Royals also swept each of the four major Landmark awards in 2022-23 (Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year). In fact, senior guard Bridget Monaghan and Kranson both earned WBCA All-American honors. 

Monaghan was selected as a WBCA and D3hoops.com All-American First Team selection as well as D3hoops.com Regional Player of the Year and Landmark Conference Player of the Year. 



O'Brien came to Scranton following a highly successful tenure as the head coach at nearby Dunmore High School where he recorded 347 victories in 14 seasons, 13 league championships, 10 district championships and 13 PIAA State Tournament appearances. His overall record over the last 14 seasons was an impressive 347-43 for a winning percentage of .890.

The Lady Bucks found success in the state tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 on all 13 occasions, 10 Elite Eights, six Final Fours and two state title games.

During his time at Dunmore, O'Brien mentored eight players who earned All-State honors, 13 who garnered All-Regional honors and 19 who received All-Scholastic accolades. Additionally, he has coached over 15 players that went on to play college basketball.

O'Brien has been named Coach of the Year by multiple outlets over the last 14 seasons including LLHoops.com (6x), NEPABasketball.com (4x) and Scranton Times-Tribune (2x). He was also honored as the 2011 PIAA State Coach of the Year.

Prior to becoming the head coach of Lady Bucks, O'Brien spent five years serving as a head coach and private instructor for Hoop City/Backcourt Hoops from 2004-2009.

He is a 2004 graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree in history and has served as a Social Studies teacher at Dunmore High School since 2007. In 2016, O'Brien received a Master's Equivalency degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

O'Brien currently resides in Dunmore with his family. 

WBCA All-Americans (2)
Bridget Monaghan (1st team, 2023)
Kaci Kranson (Honorable Mention, 2023, 2024)

D3hoops.com All-Americans (2)
Kaci Kranson (5th team, 2024)
Bridget Monaghan (1st team, 2023)

D3hoops.com All-Region Selections (2)
Bridget Monaghan (Regional Player of the Year & 1st team, 2023)
Kaci Kranson (Regional Rookie of the Year & 1st team, 2023; 1st team, 2024)

Landmark Conference Player of the Year (1)
Bridget Monaghan (2023)

Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2)
Maddy Ryan (2023)
Kaeli Romanowski (2024)

Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year (2)
Kaci Kranson (2023)
Meghan Lamanna (2024)

All-Landmark Conference Selections (5)
Kaci Kranson (1st team, 2023 & 2024)
Bridget Monaghan (1st team, 2023)
Sam Rajza (2nd team, 2023)
Kaeli Romanowski (1st team, 2024)
Maddy Ryan (2nd team, 2023 & 2024)