Dan O’Brien was named the defensive backs coach for the Phoenix in February of 2011 after spending the previous four seasons as a defensive analyst and defensive graduate assistant on the staff of Nick Saban at the University of Alabama.
O’Brien’s first season with the maroon and gold saw him working with a young group of defensive backs. Of those players who received significant playing time, only one was a senior.
Three different Phoenix defensive backs all finished 2011 with a pair of interceptions. Highlighting the picks was a pick-six of 99 yards by Jonathan Conner, the second-longest return in school history.
In 2012, Elon’s defensive backs picked off six passes, including two each from Miles Williams and Akeem Langham.
At Alabama, O’Brien assisted with the coaching of the defensive backs and linebackers and helped the program to a 2009 BCS national crown. The Crimson Tide ranked fifth nationally in total defense, third in scoring defense and 10th in rushing defense in 2010. In 2009, the unit ranked second in the country in all three of those categories.
Prior to his stint at Alabama, O’Brien served one season on the staff at Harvard University where he coached the safeties.
O’Brien has also had experience as a scouting assistant intern with the New England Patriots in 2005 and as a student assistant with Boston College.
O’Brien earned his communications degree from Boston College in 2005.
