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Jim O'Brien
By Allyson Turner
This is the eighth time O'Brien has taken his team into the postseason, and the fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament.
O'Brien is in the Final Four for the first time, and Ohio State hasn't been there since '68. O'Brien's previous quest for the Final Four came with his Boston College team in the 1993-94 season. His Eagles upset No. 1 seed North Carolina featuring Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace to advance to the Elite 8. But BC lost to Florida in the East Regional final.
A high school All-American at St. Francis Prep in Brooklyn, O'Brien played three years (1968-71) for Boston College. As a point guard for coaches Bob Cousy and Chuck Daly, he scored 1,273 points, ranking 14th on the school's all-time scoring list. As a senior, O'Brien was New England Player of the Year and also was named to two Boston College all-decade teams.
O'Brien previously coached St. Bonaventure (1982-86) before becoming coach of his alma mater, Boston College. O'Brien was named Big East co-Coach of the Year in 1995-96, the same season he took the program to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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Ohio State is the third school Jim O'Brien has taken to postseason play.
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He taught me how to be a point guard more than anything else, and how to compete. I think the thing that stands out from being a guard, was not so much the hows of doing things or the whys of doing things, but he gave me a better understanding of everything overall.
Are you passing on Cousy's teachings to your point guard, Scoonie Penn? Kind of a Cousy to O'Brien to Penn?
I think so. A lot of what I learned from Cousy I hope to pass on. With all of the guards we get an opportunity to coach, and we've had so many great guards, hopefully I can pass all that I learned from him along.
You also played for Chuck Daly. What did he teach you?
Daly taught me how to deal with people. He was a very people type of a guy and I think Chuck Daly brought Boston College out of the dark ages and into contemporary times. I continue to have a very good relationship with both of those guys (Cousy and Daly). But Daly was a very good practice coach and he was organized in everything that he did.
Before a game, you always do what?
(Laugh). If only the guys on my staff could hear this one. I always find myself indisposed if you will.
What is the difference between coaching in the Big East and the Big Ten?
There's really not a lot of differences. The one thing that stands out is the number of people that show up for games in this conference. You can't go to any place on the road and not play in front of a full house. The passion for the basketball teams in the Midwest is second to none.
What was the best piece of advice you received and who was it from?
Jim Valvano said, 'Never make a decision that is going to hurt you.' He was alluding to decisions that we make sometimes for disciplinary reasons where we may kick a kid off a team or not have a kid play, and in the long run it ends up hurting the coaches. It was a very interesting comment and something I've never forgotten.
What wisdom do you pass along to your students?
I try to get the students to understand that they really need to enjoy and appreciate every second that they have while they are playing in college. It happens every single year when you talk to your seniors -- they all say the same things that it has gone by so quickly. I think when kids first get here as freshman, they think that this is gonna be the rest of their lives. This is their existence and it will always be this way. The next thing you know, you turn around and they're being honored on Senior Night.
The other thing I always tell them whenever they're complaining about stuff, three to six months after they get out of college and they're working in the real world, they'll be beggin' to be back in college doing the same thing they were complaining about.
What is one word or phrase that best describes your personality?
Low key.
What is your pet peeve(s)?
People being late.
What is the best part about being a coach?
Dealing with the kids. You always stay young because you are always working with kids that are between 17 and 22 years old. That part of it never changes. Their age always stays the same and with that, I think it has a tendency to keep you young.
What is the worst part?
The insistence in dealing with the neccesity to have to win all the time. I think that has taken some of the fun out of coaching for the sake of coaching. It's all about just winning and I think that has tarnished some of it.
What was the greatest moment for you on the court?
I have two that are equal. In 1994, beating North Carolina when they were ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament. And a couple of years ago, winning the Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden.
How about off the court?
At this point, seeing my daughter Erin graduate from college. I'm still looking for the second greatest moment when my other daughter Amy does the same thing.
If you could have anyone over your house for dinner, whom would you invite?
My daughters.
What is a perfect day?
Going to the beach, reading a book, going to dinner and having a nice relaxing evening. I also have to throw a round of golf in there.