Lipscomb University Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson announced today that women's golf head coach Shannon O'Brien will step away from her position following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season to relocate to Starkville, Mississippi, where her husband, Kevin O'Brien, recently accepted the head women's soccer coaching position at Mississippi State University.

O'Brien has led the Bisons to unprecedented success since taking the helm in 2022, transforming the program into a conference powerhouse and national contender. Under her leadership, Lipscomb women's golf achieved milestones that will define the program for years to come.

In her inaugural 2022-23 season, O'Brien guided the Bisons to the program's first-ever ASUN Conference Championship and first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. The team shattered nearly every program record, including most tournament wins, season scoring average, and program-high national ranking. O'Brien coached Mary Kate Smith to ASUN Golfer of the Year honors and Lauren Thompson to the ASUN Individual Championship, while also mentoring four WGCA Scholar All-Americans.

The success continued in 2023-24, as the Bisons finished as ASUN Championship runner-ups. O'Brien coached Thompson to back-to-back ASUN Individual titles and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Her commitment to developing student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom was evident as the team consistently ranked among the nation's top programs academically.

"Shannon has been transformational for our women's golf program," said Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson. "In just a few short years, she elevated Lipscomb golf to championship caliber while maintaining our commitment to helping our student athletes grow not just athletically, but also academically, socially, and spiritually. We are incredibly grateful for her dedication, leadership, and the foundation she has built. While we will miss her greatly, we celebrate this next chapter for Shannon and her family and wish them every success in Mississippi."

O'Brien brought a unique perspective to golf coaching, having spent nine years as an assistant with Lipscomb women's soccer, where she helped the program win six ASUN championships. Her background as a standout goalkeeper at the University of Arizona and professional soccer player informed her coaching philosophy, emphasizing mental toughness, composure under pressure, and the importance of critical moments—skills that translate seamlessly from the goalkeeper's box to the golf course.

A national search for O'Brien's successor will begin immediately, with Lipscomb committed to continuing the program's upward trajectory.

The Lipscomb community looks forward to celebrating Coach O'Brien's contributions throughout the rest of the 2025-26 season as the Bisons pursue another championship run.