The 2025 season marks Matt O'Brien’s 20th season as a head coach and his 17th season leading 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 14 straight winning seasons, nine 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 9 years in the entire state regardless of level at 4-year institutions, only trailing reigning powerhouse Kansas University.
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 in the NAIA. The 2015 team was awarded the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award, which the Builders also won in 2012. 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 Samaritan’s 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 achieving a team GPA over 3.0 in 11 of 15 years during the O’Brien era. Last year’s team carried a 3.44 GPA, one of the top grade point averages in the United States. O’Brien has served nationally on the All-American Committee, Bevo Francis Award Committee, and the NAIA national tournament selection committee.
What O’Brien is most proud of, however, is the brotherhood that has been built around Southwestern men’s basketball. He takes great pride in the connection of former players and their continued interest and commitment to current student-athletes, the program, and Southwestern College as a whole. “I’m so thankful for their support and for how much Southwestern basketball means to us all,” O’Brien said.
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 2008-2009 season at CCC, he also managed to sign 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. After many seasons of overseas trips and international experiences, O’Brien added another highlight in 2025 by leading his team to capture the gold medal at the Barbados Basketball Festival. 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 master’s 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. His uncle, Jim O'Brien, is the former Head Men's Basketball Coach at both Ohio State University and Boston College.
In 2023, Matt O’Brien gained the role of Athletic Director, appointed by President Liz Frombgen. “President Frombgen epitomizes a culture of hard work and student service at SC. Her passion and care for others directly impact our students and coaches, fostering a spirit of dedication and excellence. We are grateful for her unwavering leadership and commitment to our community.” This marks Matt O’Brien’s 2nd season as Athletic Director at SC. During his initial year, O'Brien made significant strides by rejuvenating a thriving booster club, implementing a new sound system at Jantz Stadium, and installing a new scoreboard in Jantz. In addition, his leadership has overseen the launch of Builders Sports Live, growth in athletic enrollment, the revamp of the Southwestern College Hall of Fame to better honor alumni, and the rejuvenation of the Jinx Awards, the annual year-end celebration of all SC athletes. This season also features an enhanced game-day experience in the upper deck with the addition of new video boards and an American flag honoring Jim Farney.
O'Brien resides in Winfield with his wife, Jeri, and their three children: Brayden, a student at Long Beach State in California majoring in accounting; Madeline, a nurse in Kansas City; and Macy, a junior at Lawrence High School.
