O’Brien, Jennifer

A 1996 graduate of Mercy High School where her team captured the CIAC Class L Championship her senior year, Jennifer O'Brien is Mercy's All-Time Leading Scorer. Totaling 1,950 points at guard for Coach Tim Kohs, Jen was Mercy's 1996 Athlete of the Year, 4-time Middlesex County Leading Scorer, 4- time All-Middlesex County, 4-time All-Southern Connecticut Conference, 3-time All-State in Basketball and 1996 All-State in Lacrosse, and 1996 USA Today Connecticut High School Girls' Basketball Player of the Year. Jen also ran Cross Country for 3 years, her team winning the 1994 Class L Championship.

An Economics' major at Davidson College, Jennifer played Point Guard for Coach John Filar and totaled 1,510 career points, compiling 588 assists and 368 steals. She is Davidson's All-Time Leader in assists and steals and third All-Time in points scored.

Jennifer was the first Southern Conference Player and the first Davidson player, male or female, to surpass 1,500 career points, 500 assists, 500 rebounds, and 300 steals.

In 2011, Jen was inducted into Davidson College's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2007-08, she was named one of the Top Players in Conference history. In 2000, Jennifer was named Davidson's Top Female College Athlete. A 3-year team captain, Jennifer was twice Most Valuable Player, 3 times All-Southern Conference and All-Tournament, and, in 2006, was inducted into the Middletown, CT Sports' Hall of Fame.  Jen was most recently named to the Atlantic 10 Conference Legends Class of 2015.

Jen believes that playing sports helps prepare athletes for future endeavors.  “The most valuable part of my basketball experience has been the opportunity to be part of a team --- and to be a ‘teammate.’  I’ve learned the importance of self-discipline, being coachable, the nuances of communication and leadership, and the power of simply working hard and having a great attitude.  These are all life skills that I call on every day.”  

Jennifer O'Brien is currently Director of Emerging Business Data Operations at Premier Healthcare Alliance in Charlotte, North Carolina.