Kian O'Brien is entering his second season as an assistant coach for the Madison College baseball team and head coach Mike Davenport. O'Brien was hired in January 2020.
O'Brien returns to the WolfPack after the Madison, Wisconsin, native played 80 games and made 72 starts as an infielder and catcher in 2016 and 2017. He helped the WolfPack to a record of 29-28-1 in 2016, finishing third in the North Central Community College and in the Region IV Tournament. O'Brien batted .350 with 57 hits that included three home runs and 13 total extra base hits. He also produced 43 runs, 36 runs batted in, and five stolen bases. After the season, he earned First Team All-N4C honors. As a sophomore in 2017, O'Brien was limited due to injury, but still hit at a .415 clip with ten extra base hits out of 34 total hits, 29 runs scored, 22 RBI, and four stolen bases. The WolfPack went 37-18 with runner-up finishes in both conference and region play. His .376 career batting average still ranks 23rd in program history
With two seasons under his belt for the ‘Pack, O'Brien continued his playing career at NCAA Division I Kent State University in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 Golden Flashes were crowned MAC champions and played in the Texas Tech Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Over 79 career games played and 55 started, he hit .264 with 62 hits, seven home runs, 48 RBI, and 39 runs scored. O'Brien earned First Team All-MAC honors as a senior infielder, as well as MAC Player of the Week, MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week, and CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades. Additional academic recognition included Google Cloud Academic All-Area and twice a member of the MAC Honor Roll. O'Brien will graduate in 2020 with a degree in Sports Administration. O'Brien also spent several summers of his college years playing in the Northwoods League, with stints on the rosters of the Rockford Rivets, Kenosha Kingfish, and Madison Mallards.
O'Brien has jumped right into coaching, serving as the head coach of the 15u Grey (2019) and 17u White (2020) travel teams of GRB Academy, where he also serves as an instructor.
During his prep days, O'Brien was a three-sport athlete competing in baseball (4 years), basketball (3 years), and soccer (3 years) at Madison La Follette High School, where he earned ten varsity letters before graduating in 2015. Following his senior season of baseball, he received First Team All-State and All-Region honors from the WBCA, was named the Big 8 Conference and Wisconsin State Journal Area Player of the Year. O'Brien also took home the La Follete Male Student-Athlete of the Year award.
O'Brien currently resides in Madison, and enjoys playing with his dogs, watching Wisconsin sports teams, making trips "up north", traveling, and golfing.
