Assistant Coach
Sixth Season
Connecticut, 2000
 

Carey (Dorn) O’Brien returns for her sixth season as a full time member of the University of Connecticut women’s soccer coaching staff.  She served two years as a volunteer assistant before joining the Husky coaching staff on a full-time basis for the 2003 season.  Prior to her coaching career, O’Brien graduated from UConn in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in sport marketing.  A magna cum laude graduate in the university’s Honors Program, she received both the John McClendon Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship and the NCAA Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship to pursue further education. 

After graduation, O’Brien began her master’s degree at UConn in sports management and served as a graduate assistant in the athletic department.  That same year, she was drafted in the fifth round of the Women’s United Soccer Association’s (WUSA) inaugural draft as the 40th overall pick. Putting her master’s degree on hold, O’Brien played two years (2001, 2002) for the San Jose CyberRays and was a member of the 2001 Founder’s Cup Championship team.  Playing along side former U.S. national team stars Brandi Chastain and Tisha Venturi-Hoch, and Brazilian internationals Sissi and Katia, O’Brien was a defensive midfielder for the CyberRays, playing in 34 games and starting 18 throughout her two years there. 

Prior to the WUSA, O’Brien was the mainstay of the Husky defense from 1995-1999 and was captain her senior year.  She played in 92 games, making 82 starts, recording six goals and eight assists for 20 points.  O’Brien finished her career at UConn with an overall record of 83-17-3, advanced to three NCAA quarterfinals and one trip to the NCAA Final in 1997.  O’Brien was named Second Team All-BIG EAST in 1998 and First Team in 1999.  Also in 1999, O’Brien was selected as a NSCAA Second Team All-American, a NSCAA Academic All-American and a UConn Club Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete.  For her accomplishments as a youth, college and professional player, O’Brien was inducted into the Connecticut Girl’s Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in the fall of 2006. 

In addition to her coaching duties at UConn, O’Brien has been involved with various youth clubs and camps.  From 1997-2000, O’Brien served as an assistant coach with Windsor World Class and in 2005, O’Brien worked with the U-10 girl’s developmental team at Farmington Sports Arena (FSA).  In 2005, she also served as an Assistant Coach for the U-13 Connecticut Olympic Development Program team.  She has been involved with several camps and clinics including the Pioneer Soccer School, Keene State Camp, Ray Reid Soccer School and the SoccerPlus Field Player Academy.  While in San Jose, Calif., she ran clinics for youth teams throughout the Bay Area.

O’Brien, a native of West Hartford, Conn., attended William Hall High School where she was a NSCAA High School All-American in soccer and an All-State player in tennis.  O’Brien currently resides in West Hartford with her husband, Jimmy and their son, Casey.