John O’Brien has been an assistant coach with the University of Pennsylvania heavyweight crew program since August 2022.
In the 2024-2025 season, O’Brien helped the 5th varsity eight to victories over Harvard, Navy, and Holy cross during the regular season. At EARC Sprints, the fifth varsity eight finished third, the first podium finish for the team since 2006. At the 2026 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships, O’Brien helped the Varsity Four to a second place finish, as part of a team effort securing the best team finish since 2000.
O’Brien helped Penn earn the Clayton W. Chapman Trophy at the 2023 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships, awarded to the program that improved the most in the overall team points standings from the previous year. The 2023-24 season saw the Varsity Eight take fifth at EARC Sprints, its best finish at that event since the 2001 crew also finished fifth, and at the IRA Championships the 1V8 finished eighth (its best finish since 2000). As a team, Penn took ninth in the Ten Eyck Trophy standings for total team points.
O’Brien comes to Penn from State College Area Rowing, a high school team he helped found in State College, PA. In the team’s second season, they achieved a 6th place finish in the girls double at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta.
O’Brien rowed at Penn State and holds the team 6k record.
