Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and his wife, Leah Connell, met at San Diego State University. Sixteen years after making that first eye contact at the cafeteria, Leah and Kevin have become a family of six.
In the 2024 season, Kevin O’Connell has led the Vikings to a 14-3 season and playoff bid. After the loss to the Lions on Sunday night, there were rumors about him joining another NFL franchise.
The Vikings head coach dismissed those speculations, saying Minnesota is where he wants to keep coaching and leading.
Before becoming an NFL head coach, Kevin, the 6’6 quarterback, was a star at San Diego State.
In his four seasons with the Aztecs, Kevin finished with 7,689 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 1,312 yards and 19 touchdowns.
These numbers guaranteed him a place in SDSU’s record books. After chart-topping performances at SDSU, Kevin couldn’t fully realize his potential in the NFL.
A journeyman, O’Connell joined the Patriots as a third-round pick in 2008. Only a season later, the Patriots waived him. Being even a backup QB to Tom Brady was difficult at the time.
He retired from the NFL in 2012 and began laying the groundwork for his coaching career. His first coaching role came with the Browns as their quarterback coach in 2015.
O’Connell resumed the same role as the Commanders and later became their offensive coordinator. Kevin has been the Vikings head coach for the past three seasons.
Kevin O’Connell’s Wife, Leah, Is a Former Athlete Who Played Volleyball!
In an interview, Leah O’Connell said she still smiles remembering her first interaction with her husband, Kevin. The two fell in love as athletes while at San Diego State.
Leah came to San Diego with a volleyball scholarship.
Her dad, Kit Lathrop, played for multiple NFL and USFL teams between 1978-87 before becoming a full-time coach. He coached five seasons at Arizona Western College and later in the Canadian Football League.
Leah also followed in her father’s footsteps in the sports industry. She was a setter for the Aztecs volleyball team and played the sport for three seasons.
She graduated with a communication degree in 2009 and is currently a Fitness professional and Natural Supplement Representative at The Bay Club Company.
Another company that Leah works for is Panacea Scientific, where she is a Supplement Sales Specialist.
Juggling between her husband, work, and four kids is tough for the former volleyball player, but she has managed it all.
In a 2022 interview with the Vikings’ website, Leah revealed she and Kevin got engaged and married within a year.
It was all done in 2010 when Kevin tried becoming a regular starter in the NFL with the Jets.
In a sit-down interview with the Vikings media, Leah had nothing but compliments for her husband, describing him with words like humble, kind, and respectful.
Kevin O’Connell and His Wife, Leah, Are Firm Believers in Christianity, and Their Faith Brought Peace During the Time of Chaos!
Even before their wedding or when they first met at San Diego State, Kevin and Leah were firm believers of Christian faith.
In April 2024, the Vikings head coach gave a speech at St. Phillip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minnesota.
He is a regular speaker for the church, and one of his speeches can be found on the website Faith and Life.
During her interview, Leah said faith helped maintain peace in their life when the O’Connell family kept relocating from one place to another. She said,
I think it goes back to my Biblical worldview-tomorrow has enough worries of its own. Referencing Matthew 6:34, “Don’t worry about that. Just stay focused on the day. Do the day well, You’re not promised tomorrow.
via: Vikings
Leah added that the sports sector has a habit of hyping people, and she never wanted Kevin to give it up to the hype.
The Vikings head coach and wife want to contribute to the Twin Cities community. They want to serve the youth camps and activities that offer children a chance to play and have fun.
Leah said she wants everyone in the Vikings facility to have an “Us” mindset.
Kevin O’Connell and Leah Are Big On Family Life!
Kevin O’Connell and Leah share four kids: two boys, Kaden and Kolten, and two daughters, Quinn and Callie.
Leah and Kevin added their youngest member, Callie, in November 2022 on a Friday night.
During Callie’s birth, Kevin slept at the hospital, returned to work for a normal Saturday, and left for Washington with his team for Sunday night’s game.
When their oldest son, Kaden, started realizing his father had a big role in the football field, he couldn’t stop sharing what his dad did with everyone.
Kaden has already said he wants to be like his dad. He loves playing football, basketball, and baseball with Kevin.
The couple’s second son, Kolten, loves swimming with his dad and playing Paw Patrol toys with him.
Whereas their daughter, Quinn, has taken after her mom. She loves dancing and playing volleyball. But with her dad, Quinn enjoys tea parties.
During the 2024 off-season, Kevin talked about his family with the Vikings on YouTube.
When asked about his plans for the summer with the family, Kevin said they have a lot of traveling to do for Kaden’s baseball team.
The NFL head coach said he is on dad duty during the travels and makes sure the other three kids are alright during their trip.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell’s dad, Bill O’Connell, played football for Villanova University in Villanova. Bill is also a former FBI agent.
- Kevin O’Connell and his family strongly bond with former Chargers’ head coach Brandon Staley. The two NFL coaches’ kids participated in a school program where they dressed as Jesus and a fully costumed Mary, Joseph, two Magi, donkeys, and sheep.
