MIT NAMES TRICIA O’BRIEN NEW WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH
O’Brien Makes Move From Colby College to Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – Tricia O’Brien has been tabbed to lead MIT’s women’s basketball program it was announced today by DAPER Department Head/Director of Athletics, Candace Royer. O’Brien joins MIT after spending 10 years at the helm of Colby College’s women’s basketball program.

During her tenure with the Mules, she compiled a career record of 140-115. In O’Brien’s second season, she directed Colby to an 11-game turnaround and an appearance in the ECAC New England Championship tournament. At the conclusion of the 1996-97 season, she was named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) District 1 Coach of the Year and collected additional Coach of the Year plaudits from the New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) and the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA). Four years later, the Mules captured the ECAC crown and finished the season with a 22-7 overall record.

Prior to her time at Colby, O’Brien was the head coach of the women’s basketball team as well as the men’s and women’s cross country squads at Rivier College from 1992-95. In 1993-94, the Raiders posted their first winning season in a decade. The following year, Rivier notched its best record in the program’s history, finishing with an overall ledger of 17-8.

Outside of her coaching duties, O’Brien is currently a member of the WBCA and its All-America Committee. She is an active member of the NEWBA, where she served as vice-president from 1998-00 and then president the following two years. O’Brien also participates on the NCAA Division III Regional Selection Committee.

O’Brien graduated from Salem State College in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Fitness Studies. She continued her studies at Salem State, receiving a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in counseling in 1992. O’Brien was a four-year member of the Lady Vikings basketball squad, which captured the NCAA Division III National Championship in 1986. She earned Kodak All-America District 1 and All-New England honors. She was a two-time ECAC All-Star and All-Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) selection. In 1994, O’Brien was inducted into the Salem State College Hall of Fame. Two years later, the National Championship Team earned the same recognition.