Bill O’Brien met his wife, Colleen O’Brien, a Boston College graduate, during his time as a graduate assistant with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1995 to 1997.
William James O’Brien, nicknamed “Teapot,” began his coaching career in 1993 at Brown University before spending over a decade coaching in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
He joined the New England Patriots in 2007, becoming their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator by 2011.
In 2012, he took over Penn State’s football program amidst a major scandal and led the team to an 8–4 record, earning ESPN’s National Coach of the Year award.
After two seasons, he became the Texans’ head coach.
During his Texans tenure, O’Brien’s controversial decisions included trading star receiver DeAndre Hopkins and blowing a 24–0 playoff lead to the Kansas City Chiefs.
After being fired in 2020, he joined Alabama as offensive coordinator before returning to the Patriots in 2023.
Ultimately, he was hired as the new Boston head coach on February 9, 2024.
Throughout Bill O’Brien’s coaching journey, his wife, Colleen, has been a constant pillar of support, standing by him through the highs and lows of his career.
From his early days as a graduate assistant to navigating the pressures of leading NFL teams, Colleen’s unwavering presence has played a vital role in his success.
During his Boston College head coach announcement, Bill O’Brien grew emotional as he publicly thanked her.
Additionally, he expressed gratitude that his coaching journey brought him back to a job he always wanted.
Bill O’Brien And His Wife First Met Through A Mutual Friend
Colleen was introduced to Bill through a mutual connection, Georgia Tech tight end coach Doug Marrone.
She remembers accompanying Doug to a sports bar in Atlanta, where Bill and the Georgia Tech coaching staff were celebrating a victory over North Carolina.
It was at this event that she first encountered Bill, and the two immediately bonded.
Eventually, they married in 1998 and have enjoyed a long and happy marriage since.
Additionally, author Stephanie Loh shared that Colleen’s initial impression of Bill highlighted his humor and charisma.
“There were so many football games on that he was really busier watching games than talking to me. But one thing I noticed about him was his sense of humor. He’s very funny, very self-deprecating. Sarcastic. I can be that way, too. So we hit it off.”
Via Sportskeeda
Bill O’Brien And His Wife Share Two Children, With One Having A Rare Brain Disorder
When Colleen met Bill, she was studying law with aspirations of becoming a sports athletic director. She started law school in 1995.
Colleen also served as the chief of staff for the head coach of the Nittany Lions football team.
However, as their relationship grew, she decided to prioritize their family, becoming a full-time homemaker to raise their two children while Bill advanced his coaching career.
The 54-year-old coach has two sons with his wife, Colleen, named Jack and Michael.
Michael is a freshman and a member of the baseball team at Tufts University.
On the other hand, Jack, the older son, is suffering from a unique brain disorder called lissencephaly, but that has not deterred him or his family from helping him live his life to the fullest.
After Bill O’Brien was named the new coach of the Boston College Eagles, it provided him the opportunity to live together with his wife and children.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Bill O’Brien was born on October 23, 1969, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.
- He attended Brown University. There, he played as a defensive end and linebacker for the Brown Bears from 1991 to 1992.
- During Bill’s time as the head coach of the Houston Texans, he and his wife donated $100,000 to the Houston Food Bank.
