Steve O'Brien

Steve O’Brien joined the Saint Martin's University community as Director of Athletics in October 2022. With over 20 years of professional experience, including nearly 15 years in the intercollegiate athletic departments of four Division 1 institutions (Santa Clara University, University of California - Santa Barbara, United States Naval Academy, San Jose State University), he is well prepared to lead the Saints. Driven by a passion to lead and serve mission aligned intercollegiate athletic programs at mission driven institutions, O'Brien enters the role expressing confidence in the Saints' potential for growth and enhanced competitive success.

Prior to arriving at SMU in October 2022, O'Brien served as the Senior Assistant Dean for External Relations for Santa Clara University's School of Law. In that capacity, he oversaw the law school's development, alumni relations and marketing & communications activities, and worked closely with the school's office of admissions, office of career management and the Dean's senior leadership team. During his tenure, the law school experienced unprecedented growth in the areas of constituent engagement, alumni participation and philanthropic giving. Additionally, the school's Kasner Estate Planning Symposium, a nationally recognized practitioners' conference, nearly doubled its net proceeds through attendance and sponsorship revenues.

O’Brien began his professional career as a transactional finance and real estate attorney, working for the law firms of Latham & Watkins LLP and Greenberg Traurig LLP. He has maintained his license to practice law in the state of California where his service as a director on the San Jose Arena Authority board and a privately held corporation have furthered his understanding of corporate governance and organizational leadership.

O’Brien earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 2001 where he was a member of the Southern California Law Review and graduated with Order of the Coif honors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Economics from Santa Clara University in 1998, where he graduated magna cum laude, winning the Hazel Award, the university’s top prize for an economics major, and earning a varsity letter as a member of the men’s cross-country team where he was named the program's Most Inspirational Athlete his senior year.