Tim O'Brien returns to the Connecticut volleyball team for his fourth season in 2008 after being named the Huskies' Associate Head Coach this past winter.

O'Brien serves as the recruiting coordinator for the Huskies where he has made a direct impact bringing in an outstanding recruiting class in 2006 that helped the Huskies make the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2002. For the upcoming year, O'Brien has recruited two more talented freshman to continue to bring the program to new heights.

In each of his two seasons at UConn, setters have earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors under his tutelege, including Bridget Denson-Dorman in 2006 and Jenny Neelands in 2005. O’Brien has played an integral role in the rapid, positive change the program has undergone in only a short two years.

Aside from recruiting he is active in organizing the offense as a technical trainer and teacher. O’Brien also works on editing video and analyzing statistics using the Data Volley program.

"Tim has immediately impacted our program," said Strauss. "He is an excellent recruiter, trainer and teacher of the game. Tim's successful volleyball background combined with his commitment and dedication to the University of Connecticut create an influential force daily as we strive to achieve our aspired vision of UConn volleyball."

O'Brien returned to New England after three years at Loyola University Chicago, where he served as the school's head women's volleyball coach, which included a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to his promotion to head coach, O'Brien spent two seasons as an assistant for the women's program and one season as head coach of the Chicago school's men's volleyball team.

As the front man for Loyola's women's team, O'Brien guided the Ramblers to a 22-9 overall record and captured the Horizon League Tournament title in 2004, leading them into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. All told, Loyola posted an impressive 67-28 record (.705) in O'Brien's three years on the staff. He was instrumental in the tutoring of six different Loyola All-Horizon League players, one Horizon League Newcomer of the Year and the school's first All-American since 1991.
He was just as successful at the helm of the Ramblers' men's volleyball program, as his charges posted a 19-8 record during the 2003 season, finished 11th in the final national rankings and came within one victory of a berth in the NCAA Final Four.

Prior to making the move to the Midwest, O'Brien was an assistant coach for a pair of seasons at his alma mater, Springfield College. In those two years, the Pride posted a 57-20 (.740) record, including a 31-7 mark in 2001, and captured the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship that season. O'Brien also served as a volunteer assistant coach for Springfield's men's volleyball team which captured its second consecutive Division III National Championship in the spring of 2002.

O'Brien also had a decorated career as a middle blocker/outside hitter for four years at Springfield. During his freshman season, the Pride claimed the No. 1 ranking in the final USA Today/Mizuno Division III Coaches Poll and he helped Springfield capture the Inaugural Molten Division III National Title as a sophomore. O'Brien served as team captain during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

A native of New Bedford, Mass., O'Brien graduated from Springfield College in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in athletic training and later earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Springfield College in 2002.