Dan O’Brien named St. John’s full time Director of Athletics

On Jan. 22, SJU’s Interim Athletic Director Dan O’Brien was named St. John’s full-time Athletic Director after serving nine months as the interim. O’Brien said he is grateful to be able to serve as the next Athletic Director for Saint John’s.

“I’ve had the joy of working here for nine months already, and the confidence St. John’s has to put me in this role fulltime means a lot. I’m thankful for the administration and coaches for giving me this opportunity,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said his favorite thing about his job is developing relationships with student athletes and coaches.

“I’ve learned and grown from both of those groups. I’ve also enjoyed meeting alums and seeing how passionate they are about St. John’s,” O’Brien said.

As he embraces his new role, O’Brien said he is looking forward to developing more relationships with the athletes and coaches, ways to make the athlete and coach experience better and improving facilities. SJU Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Events Peyton Bigaouette has been working alongside O’Brien for the last nine months and recalls the impact he has already had on SJU.

“He has been a great leader of our department and someone who is willing to put his best foot forward at all times to represent and lead our department. He has brought a huge, positive impact and pushed us to be our best,” Bigaouette said.

Bigaouette said the St. John’s community is excited about O’Brien being named the Athletic Director.

“Everyone seems to have reacted very positively with Dan coming in, and everyone in the Athletic Department and the athletes have been ecstatic since getting the interim tag removed. Being around Dan so much on a daily basis, I can see the good he has done already, and how positive the future looks here at SJU,” Bigaouette said.

Now that O’Brien has moved into a fulltime role, Bigaouette is excited to see what big projects O’Brien can tackle.

“There are only so many problems and tasks you can take on when you have a limited time, and now those projects can actually be addressed and taken on. He already has done so much good with our athletic department, and I am unbelievably excited to see the future of Saint John’s Athletics,” Bigaouette said.

SJU head athletic trainer Scott Bierscheid said he has enjoyed working with O’Brien over the last nine months.

“He trusts our abilities to get our jobs done while always being available to assist or talk things through. He sets an example by working extremely hard and is striving to improve the SJU athletic programs under his leadership,” Bierscheid said.

Bierscheid also said the student athletes and athletic department have responded positively to him.

“I believe the student-athletes are enjoying many of the building and staff improvements that Dan has already brought to our department,” Bierscheid said.

During his first week at SJU, O’Brien told Bierscheid he wanted to replace the 30-year-old treatment tables in the SJU athletic training room, so it would look more modern. He asked Bierscheid to get him the prices and he would make it happen. Now, there are seven new treatment tables in the athletic training room due to O’Brien’s efforts. Bierscheid is excited to see what O’Brien will accomplish now that he is in the fulltime role.

“Everyone can see in a short amount of time how much Dan loves SJU and the athletic programs he oversees. We know we have someone that is going to try as hard as he can to make this place better than it was when he started last summer,” Bierscheid said.

SJU head football coach Gary Fasching said he has known O’Brien for 30 years and admires his professionalism.

“He demands excellence and treats people fairly. Dan stops in my office every day to ask how things are going and what he can do to help. As a longtime coach, I appreciate that,” Fasching said.

Fasching said he is excited about what O’Brien brings to SJU and the Athletic Department.

“He has been a tremendous addition to our Athletic Department and worked extremely hard to build relationships with all coaches. He has a vision of how he wants all athletic teams to be the very best. In his short time here, he has worked hard to get things accomplished to enhance the experience of players and coaches,” Fasching said.

As O’Brien enters his new role as the St. John’s Athletic Director, Fasching is excited to see the impact he will have on SJU during his time here.

“This will give Dan a chance to put his stamp on the athletic department like our past Athletic Directors. He has high expectations for our coaches and athletes. He will demand the best from everyone. Knowing that he will be our permanent Athletic Director will allow our department to move forward with strong initiatives and expectations,” Fasching said.