Squash Coach

Head Coach-Chris O'Brien-Second Season

Chris O’Brien enters his second season as the head coach of the men’s and women’s squash and men's and women's tennis programs at Connecticut College.

In 2011, both the Camel men and women's tennis programs enjoyed successful seasons with O'Brien at the helm. The women won four out of their last five matches to finish the season with a 3-5 mark in league play. Sophomores Cassie Smith and Jen Herbert continue to improve as key cogs in the starting line-up.

Led by seniors Craig Stanton and Trevor Prophet, the Camel men finished 12-11 this year. Junior Jeff Weisberger had a huge spring, playing at #2 singles and sophomore George King continued to develop into one of the top talents in the conference at #3.

Junior Caleb Garza led the Camel men's squash team to its third straight Conroy Division Championship and was named to the All-NESCAC squad.  Classmate Brittany Badik garnered All-NESCAC accolades for an improving women's squad.

O’Brien arrived in New London after six years as the men’s and women’s tennis coach at Roger Williams University. There, he helped direct the Hawks’ women’s program to back-to-back appearances in the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Tournament. The men’s team was also successful reaching the second round of Nationals in 2009.

O’Brien also served as the Director of Student Advocacy at Roger Williams. In this position, he directed the peer mentoring program for incoming freshmen. He was also responsible for managing the Student Advocacy Office, an advising support office.

He taught a first-year seminar and an academic probation class to freshman as well as directing a leadership program for underrepresented students at Roger Williams.  In 2004, he was named Unsung Hero for Enrollment Management.

Prior to Roger Williams, O’Brien spent six years as the head men’s tennis coach at the University of Rochester, his alma mater. At Rochester, O’Brien’s teams qualified for the NCAA Championship from 2001-2003.  He also served as the men’s squash coach for three years and as the coach of the women’s squash club program from 2002-2003.

Barry Ward-Co-Head Coach Men's Squash

Barry Ward played tournament squash in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.  He was the New Brunswick Men's Provincial Squash Champion three times and represented the province seven times at the Canadian National Provincial Team Championships.  He coached the New Brunswick Canada Winter Games team for the 1991 Championships held on Prince Edward Island.
 
In January 1998, Barry moved to Connecticut and started assisting the Connecticut  College Men's and Women's squash teams in a part-time capacity.  This year he has accepted a bigger role in coaching the Men's Team on a full-time basis. 

"We have good depth on the team," Ward said.  "This will be a fun, competitive season."

Last Modified: Thursday, December 08, 2011 3:49 PM