DePaul University Athletics
Michele O’Brien Joins FIU’s 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame Class
9/17/2026 2:03:00 PM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO – DePaul women's soccer head coach Michele O'Brien will be inducted into the 2026 Florida International University (FIU) Athletics Hall of Fame class, FIU announced today. As a member of the third-ever Hall of Fame class, O'Brien becomes the first FIU women's soccer player inducted following a stellar playing career from 1998-2001.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful to be inducted into the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame," said O'Brien. "My time at FIU had a tremendous impact on me, both personally and professionally, and helped shape the coach and leader I am today. I'm grateful for the teammates, coaches and relationships that were such an important part of that journey. It is incredibly meaningful to be recognized by a program that means so much to me, and I feel fortunate to carry those experiences with me as I continue to lead and impact the young women in our program at DePaul."
A 2001 graduate, O'Brien spent four successful seasons at forward for the Panthers, turning heads throughout the conference. O'Brien ended her career holding the FIU career individual records in goals (58), points (134), shots (288) and assists (18). She earned six Sun Belt Conference awards, including two-time Player of the Year, two-time First-Team and two-time All-Tournament Team honors in 2000 and 2001.
O'Brien's single-season performances also hold places in the Panthers' record book. She opened her FIU career with consecutive top-10 seasons, scoring 14 goals in 1998 and 10 in 1999. O'Brien's success continued to climb in 2000, the junior posting the second-highest single-season totals for goals (20) and points (45), along with the third-highest mark for shots (86). She capped off her collegiate career by taking 83 shots, the program's fourth-highest single-season mark.
After concluding her collegiate career, O'Brien spent eight seasons with the Long Island Rough Riders (2000-'07), competing simultaneously for the Republic of Ireland (2003-'12). She claimed Football Association of Ireland Player of the Year in 2005. O'Brien also played in the Premier League for Arsenal (2003), overseas in Sweden for QBIK (2007), with Watford FC (2008), and in the USL with the Jersey Sky Blue (2008) and the Chicago Red Eleven (2009-'10).
Translating the standard that defined her playing days to the sideline, O'Brien served as assistant coach at NYU (2004-'05) and Columbia (2007-'09) before moving to Chicago to join the DePaul women's soccer staff in 2009. After a five year stint as associate head coach (2014-'21), O'Brien became the fourth head coach of DePaul women's soccer in 2021. She enters her sixth year with the program in 2026.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful to be inducted into the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame," said O'Brien. "My time at FIU had a tremendous impact on me, both personally and professionally, and helped shape the coach and leader I am today. I'm grateful for the teammates, coaches and relationships that were such an important part of that journey. It is incredibly meaningful to be recognized by a program that means so much to me, and I feel fortunate to carry those experiences with me as I continue to lead and impact the young women in our program at DePaul."
A 2001 graduate, O'Brien spent four successful seasons at forward for the Panthers, turning heads throughout the conference. O'Brien ended her career holding the FIU career individual records in goals (58), points (134), shots (288) and assists (18). She earned six Sun Belt Conference awards, including two-time Player of the Year, two-time First-Team and two-time All-Tournament Team honors in 2000 and 2001.
O'Brien's single-season performances also hold places in the Panthers' record book. She opened her FIU career with consecutive top-10 seasons, scoring 14 goals in 1998 and 10 in 1999. O'Brien's success continued to climb in 2000, the junior posting the second-highest single-season totals for goals (20) and points (45), along with the third-highest mark for shots (86). She capped off her collegiate career by taking 83 shots, the program's fourth-highest single-season mark.
After concluding her collegiate career, O'Brien spent eight seasons with the Long Island Rough Riders (2000-'07), competing simultaneously for the Republic of Ireland (2003-'12). She claimed Football Association of Ireland Player of the Year in 2005. O'Brien also played in the Premier League for Arsenal (2003), overseas in Sweden for QBIK (2007), with Watford FC (2008), and in the USL with the Jersey Sky Blue (2008) and the Chicago Red Eleven (2009-'10).
Translating the standard that defined her playing days to the sideline, O'Brien served as assistant coach at NYU (2004-'05) and Columbia (2007-'09) before moving to Chicago to join the DePaul women's soccer staff in 2009. After a five year stint as associate head coach (2014-'21), O'Brien became the fourth head coach of DePaul women's soccer in 2021. She enters her sixth year with the program in 2026.
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