John O’Brien joined the Suffolk staff in 2003 and is entering his 19th year with the Rams in 2022 as the team’s pitching coach.

During his time on Suffolk’s bench, the Rams have brought home six GNAC Championship titles (2005, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), advanced to the NCAA DIII Regional Tournament on six occasions including the program’s first–ever back–to–back trips in 2015 and 2016 and a historic run in 2017. 

After helping the Rams to GNAC glory for their fourth consecutive campaign in 2018 and fourth straight regional run in as many seasons, O’Brien was honored as the NEIBA Kevin Burr Assistant Coach of the Year presented annually to the assistant coach who shows integrity and dedication to the game of college baseball.

In addition to the conference banners, O’Brien was on the sidelines for the blue–and–gold’s ECAC New England Crown in 2014. 

Throughout his tenure, O’Brien has worked with four GNAC Pitchers of the Year — Steve Durant (2008), Alex Torres (2011), Worth Walrod (2016) and Chuck Gibson (2017). 

Under O’Brien’s tutelage four of his pitchers have gone on to sign professional contracts — Anthony Del Prete – Evansville Otters ’05, Mike Rigazio – Charlotte County Red Fish ’07, Rony Mercado, Brocton Rox ’08 and Reid Jacson - Brockton Rox ’09. 

He is a 1994 graduate of Northeastern University where he was named all-conference and All-New England his senior season. O’Brien played for the Wareham Gatemen of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in 1992 and later went on to pitch professionally in the Frontier League in 1993 and 1994. He also spent time overseas in Europe where he played for the Dutch League Haarlem, the Netherlands in 1995 and DSS Honkbal Club.

In December 2013, O’Brien was enshrined into the Intercity League Baseball Hall of Fame, an amateur baseball league widely regarded as the best among the Greater Boston Area.