{"id":206,"date":"2014-05-15T19:49:13","date_gmt":"2014-05-15T19:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/?p=206"},"modified":"2020-01-23T09:52:04","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T09:52:04","slug":"texans-head-coach-bill-obrien-st-thomas-4500forever-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/2014\/05\/15\/texans-head-coach-bill-obrien-st-thomas-4500forever-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Texans Head Coach Bill O’Brien to Lead 4500Forever Community Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bill O\u2019Brien\u2019s meteoric rise through football\u2019s elite coaching ranks is a testament to his relentless energy, tenacious self-confidence and fiery pride.<\/span><\/p>\n

Characteristics which make him the perfect match to keynote the upcoming 4500Forever Community Event at St. Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

In one of his first public appearances since becoming the Houston Texans head coach, O\u2019Brien will deliver his powerful \u201cHow To Build A Winning Team\u201d June 11 at Reckling Gymnasium.<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien\u2019s personal and professional successes exemplify much of what St. Thomas has represented for 114 years of Basilian mission and vision.<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien said in a 2012 interview soon after taking over as the head coach at Penn St. that \u201cthis will be a place where they play really competitive football, but they also learn values and appreciate the importance of a great education to their lives. \u00a0Those values will never be sacrificed just to win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien easily could have been describing the uncompromising essence of St. Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

In that same interview with the Brown Alumni Magazine, O\u2019Brien remembered his alma mater as a university that \u201cattracts so many different types of people that it helps prepare you for your next step in life. \u00a0Whatever career you\u2019re going into, you\u2019ve already had to open your mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, O\u2019Brien\u2019s words strike to the core of the St. Thomas experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4500Forever-O'Brien-2014\"<\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien himself has been open to accepting steep challenges, both personal and professional, with an endless unbridled optimism and an eye for unorthodox strategies when prudent.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was open to leaving his senior coaching position at Duke University in 2007 and becoming a low-level assistant with the New England Patriots while absorbing a sizable salary cut, viewing it as an opportunity to invest in his future. <\/span><\/p>\n

By 2009 O\u2019Brien became the Patriots offensive play-caller, by 2011 the offensive coordinator, by 2014 the third head coach in the history of the Houston Texans.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2012 O\u2019Brien was open to accepting his first head coaching position while replacing coaching icon Joe Paterno at Penn St. even in the aftermath of unprecedented university scandal, severe scholarship restrictions and NCAA sanctions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4500Forever-Bill-O'Brien-3-2014\"<\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien was open again to an invitation from president Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB to speak to 4500Forever and accepted without hesitation, committing after only a brief random introduction to the school, it ideals and pursuits. \u00a0Just as the Basilian Fathers were open to seizing the chance to secure the HISD property despite a tight nine-month window to raise the $60 million required to the close the bid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fr. Storey shares O\u2019Brien\u2019s penchant for unconventional.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have two options,\u201d Fr. Storey says when discussing the North Campus expansion. \u00a0\u201cWe have the option to be safe … the option to be what some would describe as rational … and the option not to have the land. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we also have the option to be bold … the option to be courageous … and the option to assure that the next generations of young men will be taught goodness, discipline and knowledge in the tradition of the Basilian Fathers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Larry Haas `73 admits to committing much more to Texas A&M alumni giving than STH throughout most of his adult life.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Haas became reconnected to STH through his only son, Hunter `12, and believes the pay it forward principle is in effect like at no other time since the school relocated to 4500 Memorial from the original downtown location in 1940.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you contribute to 4500Forever, you really are affecting lives for the next hundred years,\u201d Haas said. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s about time, talent and treasure. \u00a0I\u2019ve given time and I think talent to this school. \u00a0And now it\u2019s time for the treasure. \u00a0I\u2019ve been really blessed. \u00a0I told Father Storey, I can only pledge as much I can, and that\u2019s all I can do. \u00a0But if everyone in our community does the same, we can make this happen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Seating and parking for the June 11 4500Forever Community Event is limited. \u00a0Those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive early. \u00a0Reckling Gymnasium doors open at 6:15 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Catholic. \u00a0Basilian. \u00a0Teaching Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge since 1900.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bill O\u2019Brien\u2019s meteoric rise through football\u2019s elite coaching ranks is a testament to his relentless energy, tenacious self-confidence and fiery pride. Characteristics which make him the perfect match to keynote the upcoming 4500Forever Community Event at St. Thomas. In one of his first public appearances since becoming the Houston Texans head coach, O\u2019Brien will deliver […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9,10,11,12,8],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/4500Forever-OBrien-2-2014.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":212,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206\/revisions\/212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sths.org\/4500Forever\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}