July 10, 2008
SANTA CLARA - Santa Clara University baseball coach Mark O'Brien has received a multi-year contract effective immediately, Director of Athletics Dan Coonan announced today.
"I am extremely thankful to Santa Clara University and especially Athletic Director Dan Coonan and the administration," said O'Brien. "Santa Clara is a special place to be and it is wonderful to know my family and I will share many more great memories here. I truly believe there are many great years ahead of us, and the coaching staff and I look forward to the challenge of becoming a National contender year in and year out."
O'Brien signed a multi-year agreement to remain the Broncos' skipper following SCU's most successful season in 11 years in which Santa Clara compiled a 33-21 overall record, defeated nationally-ranked opponents Stanford, Cal, San Diego and the eventual National Champion Fresno State, and had nine student-athletes earn All-West Coast Conference honors including Freshman of the Year and All-American Thain Simon.
Since arriving at SCU in the summer of 2001, O'Brien has overseen a steady rise in the Bronco baseball program. Three of his recruiting classes have ranked among the national top-20 and nine Broncos have earned All-America honors. O'Brien has coached 26 players who have entered the professional major leagues, 27 All-Americans and 12 first round draft picks.
A 1993 graduate of San Jose State University, O'Brien served in a variety of head and assistant coaching capacities over the eight years prior to coming to SCU. He began his career as the head coach of the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska League for one summer, while also serving as the head assistant baseball coach at Cal Poly for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. While at Cal Poly, he served as the program's recruiting coordinator and attracted classes that were rated among the top 40 in the country. Following his stint at Cal Poly, O'Brien served as the head coach at DeAnza College for the 1998 season and mentored each of the nine sophomore players on the team to advance their education at four-year institutions.
O'Brien served as an assistant coach and a recruiting coordinator for three years at Stanford University and helped lead the Cardinal to three straight appearances in the prestigious College World Series. Stanford compiled a 150-47 record over the three years for a .761 winning percentage with O'Brien handling the hitting and infield coaching duties. He also served as the team's first base coach and was heavily involved in all phases of recruiting.
A graduate of Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif., O'Brien began his college career as a baseball player at DeAnza College and San Jose State. While at DeAnza, he earned all-Northern California honors and was an all-Alaska League player during the summer of 1991. After earning a scholarship at San Jose State, O'Brien served as a team captain and was the program's defensive player of the year and was a two-time scholar athlete honoree.
