Career
O'Brien also competed at the 1986 in Edinburgh, Scotland, winning a Silver medal in the coxless four and a Bronze medal in the eights. He moved to England in the early 1990s where he worked as a teacher and coached rowing at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith. He worked closely with the Latymer Upper School boatman at the time, Coyne T. Mullen.
He then went on to Shiplake College, on the River Thames south of Henley-on-Thames. He was the Deputy Headmaster there. He became Headmaster of Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai, UAE) as of mid-2011.