Jack received alldistrict honors and was listed twice as one of the top 50 players in the shore conference. What coach jack obrien is able to do with a group of innercity boys is commendable. Jack obrien footballer, born 1906 19061970, australian rules footballer for south melbourne and hawthorn jack obrien outfielder 18731933, american baseball player jack obrien wrestler 19101982, americanborn mexican professional wrestler. Jack o brien is a high school basketball coach extreme in both his demands and his devotion. Former salem high school coach jack obrien left an indelible mark on the lives of many basketball players during his seven years in salem in the mid. With monastic discipline, he has built a powerhouse program that wins state championships year after year while helping propel players to college. You can leave condolences in the guest book, buy sympathy flowers, and pay your respects. Coach jack obrien and his charlestown players will bring you to your feet, and they. Obrien returned to coaching basketball after a sevenyear hiatus. Jack obrien, the impossibly demanding basketball coach at charlestown high school in boston, has led his team to five state championship titles in six years. Obrien was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on may 2. Brien is a high school basketball coach extreme in both his demands and his devotion. Jack obrien knelt down, and his index finger began tracing the.
Obrien played in all nine games for the mules, finishing with 163 completions for 1,176 yards and eight touchdowns. Nonfiction danbury middle schools 2018 summer assignments. Neil swideys the assist chronicles three years in the life of coach jack o brien and the players of charlestown hs in boston. Hoops, hope, game their lives neil swidey hardcover. Jack obrien is a white man coaching black city kids in a formerly all white school changed by bostons desegregation and busing system. Feb 15, 2008 former salem high school coach jack obrien left an indelible mark on the lives of many basketball players during his seven years in salem in the mid1980s. Swidey writes an interesting book about young black men at charlestown, and the basketball coach who dared to push them above their circumstances. Join facebook to connect with michael o brien and others you may know. Coach jack obrien and his charlestown players will bring. In this engaging book about bostons charlestown high school basketball team, swidey, a staff writer for the boston globe magazine, explains that being part of the charlestown program was no guarantee that a. Jack is a member of the institute of electrical engineers and the ancient order of hibernians in america division 3 doylestown.
A reading group guide for the assist by neil swidey. Jan 01, 2008 obsessive basketball coach jack obrien was a beloved mainstay at charlestown high school, leading its team to multiple championships. Over the course of seven years, he helped forty young men find their way to college against some pretty high odds. Hoops, hope, and the game of their lives neil swidey hardcover nonfiction english 9781586484699. Boston to attend charlestown high school, where the last battles of the citys. The bassist for red hot chili peppers, flea, tweeted his nearly 1 million followers on thursday night about finishing the 2008 book the assist, which is about jack obrien s championship teams. Obrien, 48, was introduced yesterday as the new lynn english boys basketball coach, ending a year stint at charlestown in which his teams won five division 2 state titles, including four. Jack obrien born june 18, 1939 is an american director, producer, writer and lyricist. Obrien is a minature high school version of a young bobby knightobsessive, compulsive, and brilliant.
Boston globe magazine writer neil swidey writes about the charlestown boys basketball team in the book the assist. Swidey is a winner of the national headliner award. Jack obrien, the impossibly demanding basketball coach at charlestown h. School considering former state champion jack obrien.
What coach jack o brien is able to do with a group of innercity boys is commendable. Publisher description for library of congress control. Feb 19, 2006 gillenwater, who is 6 feet 7 inches and 230 pounds, saw limited action at charlestown, where he and hairston grew dissatisfied with coach jack o brien. Jack, as you probably know, is such a giant talent as a coach and a motivator that. Jack obrien, the impossibly demanding basketball coach at charlestown high school in boston, has led his team to five state championship. Maybe thats why neil swideys the assist, about a remarkable innercity basketball team, seems to have arrived at the perfect time. Obrien is a middleaged white guy coaching an allblack team playing in an allwhite neighborhood that three decades ago was at the center of the busing wars dividing cities across the countrya time and place indelibly described in j. Jan 06, 2008 on the line in an excerpt from his new book, the assist, neil swidey finds jack obrien, the impossibly intense basketball coach of charlestown high, struggling to help one of his toughest players, jason white, take his big shot at a better life, before it slips away. Obrien steps down from springfield central boys hoop. He does this as a white suburban guy working exclusively with black city boys.
A dramatic tale of struggle on and off the court in. My surprising education in starting a charity the boston. Springfield central hires jack obrien as boys basketball coach october 1, 20 october 3, 20 admin when the news was released that springfield central principal tad tokarz officially announced that the school has hired former charlestown and salem coach jack obrien as its new head boys basketball coach. Neil swidey anyone who cares about boston and race and hope and hoops will take heart from neil swideys the assist, in which decent kids jockey for a lucky break in a world in which decency and luck are often. The assist a shot of good sports the seattle times. Less talked about is o brien s other winning record. School considering former state champion jack obrien by jack nicas somerville high school is on the hunt for a new boys basketball coach. In his first book, the assist, neil swidey chronicles the gripping. Offers a intriguing portrait of jack obrien, the basketball coach at bostons charlestown high school, who has led his teams to a n. Nat fleischer, founder and editor of the ring magazine, ranked obrien as the no. Join facebook to connect with jack o brien and others you may know. Springfield central hires jack obrien as boys basketball coach. Aptly subtitled hoops, hope, and the game of their lives, the book introduces us to jack obrien, the nearlegendary coach at charlestown high school in boston, whose life seemed to begin and end with basketball.
He has directed and produced musicals, including the full monty and hairspray. O brien is a minature high school version of a young bobby knightobsessive, compulsive, and brilliant. This is a brilliant book, one that will stay with you. A dramatic tale of struggle on and off the court in charlestown. Feb 29, 2000 the assist covers the 20042005 season of charlestown high boys basketball. Former salem high school coach jack obrien left an indelible mark on the lives of many basketball players during his seven years in salem in the mid1980s. Springfield central hires jack obrien as boys basketball. Somerville high school is on the hunt for a new boys basketball coach. Obsessive basketball coach jack obrien was a beloved mainstay at charlestown high school, leading its team to multiple championships. Jack, as you probably know, is such a giant talent as a coach and a motivator that i expect hell be back coaching before long.
Mar 12, 2020 jack o brien, the impossibly demanding basketball coach at charlestown high school in boston, has led his team to five state championship titles in six years. Hughs family has strong ties to charlestown high school. I went to high school just outside of boston, graduated. Oct 01, 20 springfield central hires jack obrien as boys basketball coach october 1, 20 october 3, 20 admin when the news was released that springfield central principal tad tokarz officially announced that the school has hired former charlestown and salem coach jack obrien as its new head boys basketball coach. Springfield central principal tad tokarz officially announced that the school has hired legendary former charlestown and salem coach jack obrien as its new head boys basketball coach. Adrian wojnarowski, author of new york times bestseller the miracle of st. Apr 16, 2014 obriens most recent state championship season, with charlestown in 200405, was chronicled in a bestselling book, the assist. Sep 06, 20 this is basically a stepchild of the last shot, a story about the unique situation at charlestown high school and its coach, jack obrien. Nearly every one of the players who stuck with his programpoor kids growing up in highcrime neighborhoods and saddled with the lousy educational system available in urban america.
Jan 06, 2008 now, in book form, we have the assist. What made his accomplishments so impressive was the fact that his team was comprised of young men from the projects who were bussed into school. Neil swideys the assist chronicles three years in the life of coach jack obrien and the players of charlestown hs in boston. The three candidates for the position are current somerville junior. A sixperson interview committee has whittled the field down to three, including jack obrien, a fivetime state champion with charlestown high school and the subject of a bestselling book. Jack obrien is a high school basketball coach extreme in both his demands and his devotion. He, more than anyone, helped obrien guide charlestown high. Lynn jack obrien built charlestown high into one of the premier boys basketball programs in the state. Jack obrien was born on tuesday, june 12, 1860, in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Coach jack obrien and his charlestown players will bring you to your feet, and theyll bring you to tears. Nearly every one of the players who stuck with his programpoor kids growing up in highcrime neighborhoods and saddled with the. Jack obrien is a high school basketball coach extreme in both his demands and. Central hires jack obrien as boys hoop coach boston.
Obriens new cocaptains were both seniors, so richard had graduated by the time they joined the charlestown program, and paris had never suited up as a member of their squad. Obriens most recent state championship season, with charlestown in 200405, was chronicled in a bestselling book, the assist. Gillenwater, who is 6 feet 7 inches and 230 pounds, saw limited action at charlestown, where he and hairston grew dissatisfied with coach jack obrien. And the results, at least the wins, are a staggering five state championships. Hoops, hope and the game of their lives, a detailed look at coach jack obrien and the rise of his charlestown high school townies from a. My surprising education in starting a charity the boston globe. Neil swidey follows coach jack obrien, who led bostons charlestown high school basketball team to victory in several state championships, and chronicles his relationship with two talented africanamerican. Aptly subtitled hoops, hope, and the game of their lives, the book introduces us to jack obrien, the nearlegendary coach at charlestown high school in boston, whose life seemed to. Every week during the season, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, this weeks schedule, top performers, fantasy drops and adds, new debuts and interesting tidbits.
Jim o brien career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the nba and aba. Neil, whats jack o brien up to and any chance he gets back into coaching soon. Hoops, hope, and the game of their lives by neil swidey. Jack obrien, the longtime basketball coach at charlestown high school in boston, prized georges loyalty and discipline. I think he just wants to make sure its the right place.
Joseph francis hagan better known as philadelphia jack obrien january 17, 1878 november 12, 1942 was the world light heavyweight boxing champion. Born and raised in philadelphia, o brien graduated from roman catholic high school of philadelphia in 1970 and st. But jack obrien, the basketball coach at charlestown high schoolin boston, takes it to another level. May 2, 1882 age 224d, 517th in mlb history last game. Nearly every one of the players who stuck with his program poor kids growing up in highcrime neighborhoods and saddled with the lousy. By the time the articles appeared in the magazine in 2005.
University of connecticut and nba orlando magic 4 guard shabazz napier is a former player of the charlestown basketball team, and his jersey was retired by the high school in january 2014. Josephs, o brien started on the hawks basketball team for three seasons. His brother, derek, was an allscholastic and globe super teamer on four consecutive division 2 state championship teams 200003 under head coach jack obrien hugh was an assistant coach for the 2002 and 2003 teams. He served as the artistic director of the old globe theatre in san diego, california from 1981 through the end of 2007 obrien has won three tony awards and been nominated for seven more, and won five drama desk awards. Most of all, theyll make you care about a game so much bigger than winning and losing. O brien is the soninlaw of hall of fame coach jack ramsay. Former charlestown high coach jack obrien talks to former player and current brighton high coach hugh coleman during the alray taylor 3on3 tournament at umass boston on sept. After using him as a utility player for three years, hed finally made him. He does this as a white suburban guy working exclusively wit. Neil, whats jack obrien up to and any chance he gets back into coaching soon. Its the inspiring story of a man who makes a difference, and. On the line in an excerpt from his new book, the assist, neil swidey finds jack obrien, the impossibly intense basketball coach of charlestown high, struggling to help one of his toughest players, jason white, take his big shot at a better life, before it slips away. Publisher description for library of congress control number.