From Wheeling To Boston
O'Brien's Success A Slam Dunk
By JoAnne Harrop

Jim O'Brien coaches basketball at the highest level, but he hasn't forgotten the people who played a part in getting him to the top of his game.

O'Brien is the head coach of the NBA Boston Celtics, who were in second place behind New Jersey in mid-March in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

Despite his hectic schedule, he found time in the middle of the grueling NBA season to hand write a note to congratulate a former assistant and colleague at Wheeling Jesuit College on his 200th-career victory.

"That is the kind of guy Jim O'Brien is," said Wheeling Jesuit men's basketball coach Jay DeFruscio, who was O'Brien's assistant at Wheeling Jesuit. "He wasn't able to make the game, so he made sure he wrote me a letter to congratulate me and let me know he was aware of what I am doing."

O'Brien wasn't able to attend DeFruscio's big night, because O'Brien was in the heat of the professional basketball season. In his first season as head coach, he has guided the Celtics to their longest winning streak of the season ­ seven games through the middle of last month.

"I have always aspired to be a head coach at the NBA level," O'Brien said. "I've never made any bones about it. It's the difference between suggesting and making the decision. Every coach that coaches until he's 50-years-old has spent a lot of time studying the game and teaching the game. I don't know one person who doesn't want to make the decisions, be ultimately responsible."

It is no fluke that O'Brien has his dream job.

Just ask the people who know him. Paul Holzshu, the athletic director and boy's basketball coach at Gateway High School, coached against O'Brien when he was at Wheeling Jesuit in Wheeling W.Va., and Holzshu was at West Liberty State. The two schools have a strong rivalry, which meant the games were intense battles.

Usually, O'Brien was the one who came out a winner.

"Over the years, I would say that Jim got the best of me," Holzshu said. "He is a great coach. I knew then that he would go far in coaching, so the fact he is coaching in the NBA is not a surprise to me. He was a very good coach from the beginning."

And a good friend, too.

In addition to his knowledge of man-to-man defenses and offensive sets, O'Brien is respected even more for his ability to be there in good times and bad.

"He was a mentor for me," DeFruscio said. "I knew I could ask him anything. He is the kind of guy you can call at 3 a.m., and he wouldn't question why you were calling him in the middle of the night. He would ask what you needed."

O'Brien, a Philadelphia native, got his first coaching job as an assistant at Wheeling Jesuit from 1974-75 where he would later return as the team's head coach.

O'Brien was with Boston as an associate head coach under Rick Pitino when the head coaching opportunity came open. Pitino, who also was the president of the Celtics organization, resigned in January 2001. Shortly after Pitino resigned, O'Brien was named interim coach for the remainder of the 2000-01 season. He won his first game that night against the Miami Heat and led the Celtics to a .500 record during that time. He was given a multi-year contract last April and became the 14th head coach in Celtics' history.

O'Brien worked under Pitino for more than 500 games. O'Brien joined the Celtics in 1997. He actually captured his first NBA victory on April 17, 1998, when he took over for Pitino who was ill. Boston defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 78-71.

Prior to joining the Celtics, O'Brien was an assistant at University of Kentucky under Pitino from 1994-97. The Wildcats were 95-12 during O'Brien's time there. They won the 1996 NCAA championship and lost in the title game in overtime in 1997. O'Brien was head coach at the University of Dayton from 1989-94. He joined Pitino at the New York Knicks as an assistant from 1987-89.

He was the head coach at Wheeling Jesuit from 1982-87. He served as an assistant at Wheeling Jesuit, Pembroke State College, University of Maryland, St. John's University and the University of Oregon after his first assistant's job with Wheeling Jesuit.

As a player, O'Brien was a three-year starter at St. Joseph's University where he lead his team to three post-season appearances - the NIT in 1972 and two NCAA appearances in 1973 and 1974. He was named co-MVP his senior season.

O'Brien has led Boston back to respectability and beyond. The Celtics are fun to watch.

That's why Holszhu, DeFruscio and Tom McConnell, who was an assistant under O'Brien at Dayton, continually check the television listings to see if the Celtics are on so they can watch O'Brien's squad.

McConnell, a Brookline native, said the key to O'Brien's success is his ability to get players to play hard for him.

"He is so sincere that players believe and trust in what he is saying," McConnell said. "They enjoy playing for him. I enjoyed coaching with him, because he was always open and honest with the players and his assistant coaches."

McConnell added O'Brien also is the most meticulous person he has ever been around. O'Brien watched more film than any other coach McConnell has worked with. He would watch film three times by himself and then watch another three times with his assistants, McConnell said.

"You can see he still does when you watch the Celtics," McConnell said. "They are so well-taught. They are organized and are very aware of what the other team is going to do. There is no stone left unturned with Jim. His ability to dissect film and show that to his players is what makes him a great coach."

O'Brien, 50, said he has been thinking about basketball day and night for the past 41 years.

"I think anybody that's involved in coaching, that's all you live for," O'Brien said. "I mean you live to be a head coach, and that's always what I want to do. I would much rather be a head coach than an assistant, because I like the ultimate responsibility. As (Harry) Truman said, 'The buck stops here.'

"If it doesn't get done, look no further than me."

Like all teams, the Steelers have had hits and misses in the NFL Draft. The following list will spark some memories ­ probably not great ones ­ for long-time Steelers' fans and considering that everyone's an "expert" these days, who better for PSR to consult with than the fan who doubles as a draftnik each spring. If we've omitted some other forgettables, don't suggest Delton Hall or Anthony Washington, we're aware of them and a whole lot more.

1. Gary Glick, QB, Colorado A&M — First round, No. 1 overall, 1956 - Famed "Bonus Pick." They could have had Jim Brown.

2. Rick Kirk, DE, Denison - Ninth round, No. 248 overall, 1979 - "Captain" Kirk fooled Steelers and other teams with workout film. Should have stayed in the movies.

3. Huey Richardson, DE, Florida - First round, No. 15 overall, 1991 - Poster-boy for first-round flops.

4. Darryl Sims, DE, Wisconsin - First round, No. 20 overall, 1985 - He was Richardson before Richardson.

5. Aaron Jones, DE, E. Kentucky — First round, No. 18 overall, 1988 - To quote Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z. on draft day - "What?"

6. Tim Worley, RB, Georgia - First round, No. 7 overall, 1989 - We were supposed to forget Franco Harris.

7. John Meyer, T, Arizona St. - Second round, No. 43 overall - Never found a position.

8. Liffort Hobley, DB, LSU - Third round, No. 74 overall, 1985 - Followed Sims and Mark Behning in that draft, preceded Dan Turk and Cam Jacobs. Ouch.

9. Jamain Stephens, OT, N.C. A&T - First round, No. 29 overall, 1996 - Coming off a Super Bowl, this was an admitted reach that fell way short.

10. Wayne Capers, WR, Kansas - Second round, No. 52 overall, 1983 - Speed won't help without hands.