Northwood basketball coach Tim O'Brien makes his return


Northwood basketball coach Tim O'Brien makes his return

Tim O'Brien, who is returning to coach Northwood High School's basketball team.

The Orange County Register

O'Brien's coaching record

Saguaro (Ariz) 1982-84: 48-7

Santiago (Garden Grove), 1984-85: 12-10

Tustin, 1985-87: 35-16

Estancia, 1987-92: 111-42

Northwood, 2001-2007: 136-60

Total: 342-135

Tim O'Brien said he "just needed a timeout," from coaching high school basketball.

But after a five-year break, he's back coaching the Northwood boys' basketball team. O'Brien, 58, was Northwood's first boys' basketball coach in the 1999-2000 season, guiding a junior varsity team.

O'Brien coached the first varsity team in 2000-2001. That team, led by Drew Terry, finished 21-8 and went to the semifinals of the CIF IVAA division playoffs, losing to St. Paul.

"He was like the ultimate motivator, and he didn't have to say much to get us to play hard," said Terry, who averaged 17 points a game his senior year and was named the PCL MVP in 2002 after averaging 18 points a game.

O'Brien had a winning record every year and compiled a 136-60 record at Northwood. He led the Timberwolves to three league titles, including the first one in 2002 in the school's second varsity season. He also had four 20-win seasons and playoff appearances every season before stepping down after the 2007 season.

After that, the program struggled, posting a 40-92 record in five years under Rich Fujii.

While he was not coaching the boys' basketball team, O'Brien continued to teach physical education, boys' golf and lower level girls' basketball teams at the school.

O'Brien has coached at five different high schools, including Estancia, where he led the Eagles to a CIF title and a state championship during his tenure from 1987-1992. He later coached at Orange Coast College from 1992-1999, but left for Northwood after he said he realized "the high school level was a better fit for me."

"I think he's back to where he belongs," Terry said. "I think everybody is better for it, and Northwood is going to do some great things now that he's back."

O'Brien recently answered some questions posed by The Irvine World News. Here's what he had to say.

Q. You've been away for five years. What brings you back?

A. I had it too easy not coaching, going home at 2 o'clock. Although I'm the boys' golf coach, the highs aren't as high, and the lows aren't as low. I just needed to coach. I just think there was more to life than what I was doing.

Q. What do you want to achieve this time around and can you have the same success as before?

A. I don't measure success in wins and losses. I think there is value in learning, and that learning is more important than the test. Don't get me wrong, winning is wonderful, but I don't want to put winning first. I want to do the right things that lead to winning.

Q. What has happened to the Northwood program in the last five years?


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