Matthew Harris Writing Sample 2

                   
Kevin O'Brien Joins Men's Soccer Coaching Staff

DAVIDSON, N.C. - Davidson College announced today the addition of Kevin O’Brien to the coaching staff of the men’s soccer team. O’Brien, who was previously on the coaching staff at Charlotte, will begin on May 1.

“Kevin is a tremendously experienced and successful coach,” said Davidson head coach Matt Spear. “He has the full package of excellent playing background, winning pedigree, recruiting prowess, communication skills, ability to adapt quickly, and leadership savvy. I have great respect for him as a person and as a family man. I know that he will make an immediate, positive, and indelible impact with our program. Davidson is lucky to bring Kevin O’Brien in to our athletic department and College’s community.”

O'Brien was a member of the Charlotte 49ers coaching staff from 2002-08 and became the program's top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2006 season. He helped lead the team to a combined 33-18-8 record and numerous appearances in the national rankings during the three seasons since taking over those positions.

He has been an assistant at the collegiate level for 12 years, including stops at three highly successful Division I programs, as well as one year of professional experience. Prior to coming to Davidson, O’Brien worked at Charlotte, Creighton and Oregon State, while also spending time on the coaching staff at Presbyterian College.

The College of Charleston graduate was a two-time All-TAAC and All-TAAC Tournament selection during his four seasons as a member of the Cougar program. In 1994, O'Brien helped lead the Cougars to the NCAA quarterfinals and an NSCAA Top-20 National Ranking. In 1995, he was named to the NSCAA All-Region team, played in another NCAA Championship, and was voted to play in the Umbro Senior Bowl Game.

He played for several professional teams since his graduation in 1996, including the South Carolina Shamrocks, the Charleston Battery and the Charlotte Eagles. He captained the Eagles team for both the 2003 and 2004 campaigns.

O’Brien holds a USSF "A" License and the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He has spent seven years coaching in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) and won a National Championship with the `88 Boy's North Carolina ODP team in 2006, and took the N.C. `91 Boy’s to the Nationals in 2007. O'Brien will be leaving the ODP program in 2008 and will join the U.S. Soccer's staff as a Developmental Academy head coach with North Mecklenburg Youth Soccer.

He married his wife, Shannon, a former University of Arizona women's soccer player and former Charlotte Lady Eagle, on April 12, 2003. They plan to move to the Davidson area and have a one-year old daughter Keely, with another child due in June.

2008-09