One of the most talented basketball players to graduate from Clark, O’Brien earned numerous accolades, including three-time All-America First-Team selections in 1981, 1982, and 1983, Division III National Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Honda Broderick Award, given to the top female collegiate athlete in the country.
She was the recipient of the M. Hazel Hughes Award, presented to the senior female athlete who has has a significant impact on the Clark athletic program.
A premier post player during her playing days, O’Brien led Clark to back-to-back NCAA Division III Final Four appearances in 1982 and 1983. In her four seasons, Clark sported an 82-35 record and won NCAA Northeast Championship titles in 1982 and 1983. O’Brien still reigns as Clark’s all-time leading scorer (2,215 points) and rebounder (1,367) and is the only Clark player, male or female, to break the 2,000 point and 1,000 rebound marks.
For her accomplishments, O’Brien was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section in 1983.
O’Brien has continued her contributions with the women’s basketball team at Clark. After serving as head women’s basketball coach at Anna Maria College in the 1985-86 season, O’Brien served as an assistant coach for the Clark women’s basketball program starting in 1986.
PRESENTER:
Barbara Stevens (former Clark women's basketball coach)
