DePaul University Athletics
Michele O’Brien Inducted into Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame
2/17/2025 3:30:00 PM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Long-time DePaul women’s soccer coach enshrined in the 2025 class of Long Island’s best
CHICAGO – DePaul women's soccer head coach Michele O'Brien has been selected as a member of the 2025 class for the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame. O'Brien, a standout forward during her playing career, will be honored at the Hall of Fame's annual gala on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Huntington Hilton in Melville, New York.
"It's an honor to be selected for the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame," O'Brien said. "Growing up on Long Island, I was surrounded by an incredible soccer culture that traditionally breeds top-level players. Not many coaches receive this honor, so to be recognized alongside some of the best players from Long Island is really special."
A Plainview, New York, native, O'Brien began her soccer journey playing for the Plainview Old-Bethpage Soccer Club before joining Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club for a more competitive environment in high school. She starred at St. Anthony's High School before playing collegiately at Florida International University (FIU), where she remains the program's all-time leading goal scorer.
O'Brien's professional career included a six-year run with the Long Island Lady Riders (2000-2006), a club she had idolized growing up. "Playing for the Lady Riders was a dream come true. At the time, the W-League was the best professional women's soccer league in the country," O'Brien said. "I used to go to their games as a kid, and to later be on that team and play in that league was an incredible experience." During her time with the Lady Riders, she became the club's second all-time leading goal scorer (30 goals), second in assists (15), and the all-time leader in points (75). She also played abroad with Arsenal in 2003, competing in the Women's Premier League and UEFA Women's Cup, before returning to the U.S. to play in the W-League with Chicago Red Eleven.
On the international stage, O'Brien represented the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team for 10 years, earning over 60 caps and competing against some of the biggest names in the sport. "Playing at the international level and competing against teams like the U.S. was an incredible challenge," O'Brien said. "Getting the chance to face legends like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, and Brianna Scurry was something I'll never forget."
After her playing career, O'Brien transitioned into coaching, joining DePaul as an assistant coach in 2009 before being promoted to head coach in 2021. "I've been fortunate to continue being part of the game in different roles. Coaching has allowed me to give back and help the next generation of players develop," she said.
Founder of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, Kevin L. McCrudden, emphasized the significance of celebrating O'Brien and the rest of the 2025 class:
"The Player Hall of Fame was created specifically to honor the best and most successful soccer players from Long Island or with extensive Long Island roots. We have such a rich history of soccer on Long Island because of our proximity to New York City, which is the cultural and soccer 'melting pot' of America. Because people from all around the world brought soccer with them to America, it has enriched the soccer culture here on Long Island."
O'Brien joins an esteemed group of inductees in the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, which recognizes the region's most accomplished players and contributors to the game. She will be honored alongside fellow inductees Lloyd Monsen, Edner Breton, Manny Matos, and Keith Van Eron, as well as Addie Mattei-Iaia, recipient of the Paul LeSueur Ambassador of the Game Award.
More information on the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame can be found at www.LongIslandSoccerPlayerHallofFame.org.
"It's an honor to be selected for the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame," O'Brien said. "Growing up on Long Island, I was surrounded by an incredible soccer culture that traditionally breeds top-level players. Not many coaches receive this honor, so to be recognized alongside some of the best players from Long Island is really special."
A Plainview, New York, native, O'Brien began her soccer journey playing for the Plainview Old-Bethpage Soccer Club before joining Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club for a more competitive environment in high school. She starred at St. Anthony's High School before playing collegiately at Florida International University (FIU), where she remains the program's all-time leading goal scorer.
O'Brien's professional career included a six-year run with the Long Island Lady Riders (2000-2006), a club she had idolized growing up. "Playing for the Lady Riders was a dream come true. At the time, the W-League was the best professional women's soccer league in the country," O'Brien said. "I used to go to their games as a kid, and to later be on that team and play in that league was an incredible experience." During her time with the Lady Riders, she became the club's second all-time leading goal scorer (30 goals), second in assists (15), and the all-time leader in points (75). She also played abroad with Arsenal in 2003, competing in the Women's Premier League and UEFA Women's Cup, before returning to the U.S. to play in the W-League with Chicago Red Eleven.
On the international stage, O'Brien represented the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team for 10 years, earning over 60 caps and competing against some of the biggest names in the sport. "Playing at the international level and competing against teams like the U.S. was an incredible challenge," O'Brien said. "Getting the chance to face legends like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, and Brianna Scurry was something I'll never forget."
After her playing career, O'Brien transitioned into coaching, joining DePaul as an assistant coach in 2009 before being promoted to head coach in 2021. "I've been fortunate to continue being part of the game in different roles. Coaching has allowed me to give back and help the next generation of players develop," she said.
Founder of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, Kevin L. McCrudden, emphasized the significance of celebrating O'Brien and the rest of the 2025 class:
"The Player Hall of Fame was created specifically to honor the best and most successful soccer players from Long Island or with extensive Long Island roots. We have such a rich history of soccer on Long Island because of our proximity to New York City, which is the cultural and soccer 'melting pot' of America. Because people from all around the world brought soccer with them to America, it has enriched the soccer culture here on Long Island."
O'Brien joins an esteemed group of inductees in the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, which recognizes the region's most accomplished players and contributors to the game. She will be honored alongside fellow inductees Lloyd Monsen, Edner Breton, Manny Matos, and Keith Van Eron, as well as Addie Mattei-Iaia, recipient of the Paul LeSueur Ambassador of the Game Award.
More information on the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame can be found at www.LongIslandSoccerPlayerHallofFame.org.
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