July 23, 2009

Yellowjackets Hire O’Brien as Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings Director of Athletics, Dr. Gary Gray, announced Thursday that Shawn O’Brien has been hired as the Yellowjacket men’s and women’s golf coach.

“We welcome Coach O’Brien as our new head men’s and women’s golf coach,” Gray said. “We’re excited to combine both teams and have one person oversee both programs. I know Shawn will work hard and do a great job advancing our men’s and women’s golf teams.”

O’Brien, a native of Gillette, Wyo., is no stranger to the MSUB athletic department as he spent the last year as a volunteer assistant women’s basketball coach for head coach Kevin Woodin. Prior to MSUB, he was an assistant coach for boys basketball at Belfield High School in North Dakota in 2006-07 and was an assistant varsity girls coach at Campbell County High School (Wyo.) in 2007-08.

He had an outstanding collegiate career as a kicker in football at Dickinson State. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in coaching. At DSU, O’Brien set a Dakota Athletic Conference record by hitting 17 field goals as a freshman and helped lead his team to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Tournament. He also was named all-America that season and was a three-time All-DAC honoree and still holds career records for field goals (34) and extra points (109). His 211 points ranks among the top five in school history.

"I am excited about the opportunity,” O’Brien said. "The athletes we have on our team are great student athletes and have a bright future." "I am excited to build upon a program which has already done very well for itself."