Sean O'Brien was hired in November of 2024 as the Director of Operations for Butler Baseball and Butler Softball.
Before arriving at Butler, O’Brien was an assistant coach and then associate head coach at Rhode Island over ten seasons. During that time, the Rams produced 20 Atlantic 10 All-Conference selections, a pair of regular season championships (2016, 2021) and one Atlantic 10 Tournament title (2016). Five of O'Brien's players have had their names called in the MLB Draft and one has signed as a free agent. In addition, eight of the program's 16 total All-Americans received that honor during his time on staff.
Additional coaching stops for O’Brien have included Endicott College, Franklin Pierce University, and UMass Lowell.
In his two years at Endicott, he helped lead the team to back-to-back Commonwealth Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles as well as an appearance in the 2013 NCAA Northeast Regionals. That year Endicott received the program's first-ever national ranking, checking in at No. 19 in the D3Baseball.com poll. The Gulls boasted the 2014 D3Baseball.com National Player of the year in All-American outfielder Tad Gold - who was later taken in the MLB Draft - as well as two-time ABCA Gold Glove winner, first baseman Brett Holmgren.
O'Brien spent two years as an assistant at his alma matter Franklin Pierce. There, he was responsible for working with the varsity catchers and hitters, while also serving as head coach of the JV squad. With O'Brien on the Ravens' staff, the team appeared in back-to-back NCAA tournaments. O'Brien also mentored All-American/Gold Glove catcher Mike Dowd, who was selected by Seattle in the 12th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
As a collegiate player, O'Brien spent four years behind the plate for Franklin Pierce, helping lead the Ravens to a pair of NCAA Northeast Regional titles. His freshman and senior seasons, the team finished in the semifinals of the Division II College World Series. His 2003 team was inducted into the Franklin Pierce Athletics Hall of Fame.
O'Brien graduated from Franklin Pierce in 2006, with a degree in Sports & Recreation Management. He also obtained an MBA in Sports Management from Franklin Pierce in 2012.
O’Brien and his wife, Kelsey, have two children, Penny and Davis.
O’Brien’s Coaching Profile
2024: Associate Head Coach, Rhode Island
2015-23: Assistant Coach, Rhode Island
2013-14: Assistant Coach, Endicott (DIII)
2011-14: Assistant Coach, Brewster Whitecaps/CCBL
2011-12: Assistant Coach, Franklin Pierce (DII)
2009-10: Volunteer Assistant Coach, UMass Lowell
