Marshall O’Brien joined the Washburn Ichabod track and field and cross country coaching staff prior to the 2021-22 season after serving the previous four seasons at former MIAA rival Southwest Baptist. During his career at SBU, O’Brien has coached 30 All-American’s in sprints, hurdles, jumps and multis and two NCAA National Champions - both in the high jump.
At the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships, he helped led the Bearcats to a top-20 finish at the indoor championships as the SBU women were the team runner-ups at the 2020 Great Lakes Valley Indoor and Outdoor Championships. At the conference level, he has coached 30 All-GLVC athletes and 50 All-MIAA athletes.
During the 2016-17 season, the women’s track and field team placed 2nd at the MIAA Indoor Conference Championships and placed 11th in the NCAA Indoor National Championships. O’Brien has coached two NCAA Elite 90 recipients during his career, an award handed out to the athlete with the highest GPA competing at NCAA Nationals.
Marshall spent the 2014-15 season as an Assistant Coach at Wartburg College where he worked primarily with the jumps team. O’Brien helped lead Wartburg to three conference championships (Women’s Indoor/Outdoor and Men’s Indoor), while also coaching two national qualifiers.
Marshall graduated from Emporia State in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical and Health Education and a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion. In 2014, Marshall completed a Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Sciences from Ohio University. He has also received certification from USA Weightlifting Sport Performance and USA Track and Field Level One Certification.
O’Brien competed in Track & Field at ESU where he cleared a national qualifying mark of 6-feet-10 inches in the high jump. He was a top-three finisher in both the indoor and outdoor high jump competition at the MIAA Championships and also participated in the long jump and decathlon.
Marshall, a native of Derby, Kansas, currently resides in Topeka with his wife Tori, daughter Avery and son Rowan.
