The 2023 season marks Matt O'Brien's 15th season as the head coach of the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. In 2018 O’Brien became the winningest coach in the history of Southwestern while being named KCAC coach of the year. O’Brien has had 13 straight winning seasons, eight 20-win seasons, and hit the career 300-win mark, which puts him amongst the most active winning coaches in the NAIA. This consistent success has led to the 2nd most wins over the past 8 years in the entire state regardless of level at 4-year institutions, only trailing reigning national champion Kansas University.
Coach O'Brien's Moundbilders are coming off a 26-7 season, 2023 KCAC Tournament Champions, and a birth to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament.
During the O’Brien era, SC has been heavily involved in the community. The 2021 team was selected as the KCAC champion of character for all men’s teams. The 2015 team was awarded the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award, which the Builders won in 2012 as well. The award is issued to one college team in each sport that exemplifies character and sportsmanship during practice, competition, on campus, and in the community. The men’s basketball team participates in several community service projects throughout the year, including packaging meals, and participating in a reading program with children at local elementary schools. The Moundbuilders’ commitment to service continues through the season, with the team participating in both the Samaritans Feet movement and the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative, and Mental Health Awareness night during the regular season.“I love working at SC for an administration who truly values character and service to the community,” O'Brien said.
The Builders have been excellent in the classroom as well, winning three NAIA Scholar Team awards and have had a team GPA over 3.0 nine of 13 years during the O’Brien era.
O’Brien has served nationally for the NAIA on the All-American Committee as well as the NAIA national tournament committee from 2012- 2015. This year Coach O’Brien was selected as one of the coaches for the NAIA all-star game as well as served on the selection committee.
O'Brien's first stop as a head coach was at Central Christian College in McPherson, Kan., where he led the Tigers to the most wins in 24 years, as well as two postseason appearances. While at CCC, O'Brien established himself as a solid recruiter, bringing in three Kansas All-State players for the 2006-2007 season. For the 08-09 season at CCC, he also managed to snag the nation's leading scorer.
Coach O'Brien has been familiar with the KCAC for several years. Before Central Christian College, O'Brien was an Assistant Coach at Friends University for seven years, helping to guide the Falcons to their first National tournament berth in school history. Coach O'Brien coached four years under the late legendary Coach Ron Heller. Following Heller, he stayed for three years as an Assistant Coach under Coach Dale Faber. During his stint at Friends, O'Brien had the opportunity to be the Head Coach for a select group of college players, traveling to Spain and France, where his team went 3-1 in international play. In 2017 O’Brien was also selected as the Head Coach of United World Athletes 19U team where he guided the USA to a 6-1 record and the Bronze medal at the United World Games held in Austria.
As a player, he was a guard for the Falcons for three seasons and was named "Most Inspirational Player" in his final season.
Coach O'Brien comes from a diverse background, growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attending high school in Conway Springs, Kan., where he received the Most Valuable Player Award in his Junior and Senior years. Following high school, Coach O'Brien received his undergraduate degree from Friends University in Physical Education and completed his Masters in Management in 2003. O'Brien has also completed a Servant Leadership online course through the University of Idaho.
Coaching basketball runs in the O'Brien family. Coach O'Brien's uncle, Jim O'Brien, is the former Head Men's Basketball Coach at both Ohio State University and Boston College.
“I am thankful for the support of Jamie Adams and the athletic staff provides for our program, as well as direction they provide to make Southwestern College strong,” O'Brien said. “I am excited about the energy around SC with our new president Elizabeth Frombgen and look forward to working under her leadership. Our mission as coaches is to make our players better young men. We want our players to learn how to manage their emotions, stress, overcome adversity, be a team, and compete with integrity on the court and in the classroom."
O'Brien has one daughter, Macy, who will turn 14 in November.
Coach O’Brien Accomplishments
All-Time winningest coach in Southwestern College history
2019 Kansas Basketball Coaches College Coach of the year
2018 KCAC Coach of the year
Coached 2019 National Player of the Year
14 straight winning seasons
7 twenty win seasons in 8 years
2017-18 KCAC championship is the first Conference Championship since 2005-06
27 wins in 2017-18 are the 2nd most wins in school history
Ranked as high as #6 in the nation
Led Builders to 4 straight KCAC tournament championship games
5 National Tournament Appearances
First ever National Tournament win in school history
Back to Back Sweet 16 appearances
First ever Sweet 16 in school history
Has coached 11 All-Americans
Has coached 48 All-Conference Selections
Has coached 43 academic award recipients
Has coached Southwestern’s All-Time leader in scoring and rebounding (Cameron Clark)
2 time National Champion of Character Team
7 Team Scholar awards
Selected twice to represent the USA to coach internationally with an overall 11-2 record
Led his team to a Bronze medal in the 2018 United World Games
