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Long-time Toledo athletic director Mike O’Brien worked his final day last April.
Don’t plan on him punching the time clock anytime soon. The 70-year-old is doing just fine at his new residence in Fort Worth, Texas.
During O’Brien’s two decades as AD, Toledo won over 40 Mid-American Conference championships, experienced unprecedented success in the classroom, and positioned itself as one of the premier departments in the league.
O’Brien also achieved personal success, as his final years were spent on the NCAA tournament selection committee, the most prestigious post in college athletics for an administrator.
Now, he passes his days watching college basketball for fun — TCU, in particular — and throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field.
The Blade recently caught up with O'Brien and talked about retirement and the current state of college sports.
The Blade: How is retirement going? Is it nice to wake up whenever you want and wear your pajamas all day?
O’Brien: “It’s going really well. We’re getting acclimated to Fort Worth-Dallas. We’ve really enjoyed it. It is really different [being retired]. The first thing on my agenda every day is I go work out, and then what happens the rest of the day is up to myself and Michelle, my wife.”
The Blade: What are the one or two things that you get to do now or more of that were hard when you were working 60 hours a week?
O’Brien: “Not that I’m terribly handy at all, but doing stuff around the house and having time to be here and help Michelle. Our son, Jack, goes to TCU, so we’ve really enjoyed the campus life there in addition to the sports. We’ve gone to a lot of events there and have really taken a liking to that school. It’s a great school.
“We’ve had time to travel and plan more trips, which is what you’re supposed to do when you retire. Over the holidays, we took a trip to London and we have a couple other things planned. It’s been great.”
The Blade: You’ve worked on college campuses your entire career. What is it about campuses and athletics that attracts you?
O’Brien: “Being around young people for one thing and student-athletes. Growing up in Iowa City, Iowa, my dad worked at the University of Iowa for 32 years. I’ve really never known another existence other than to work on a college campus. I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s kind of an addiction, to be honest. Being around young people keeps me feeling young despite the fact that I’m not.”
The Blade: TCU just went to the national championship game. They have a really good basketball team. How enjoyable has it been to see the success up close?
O’Brien: “It’s been one of those magical years. It’s just so strange that all of a sudden we move here and we’ve been able to enjoy it. We went to four football games, one of which was the Big 12 championship game in Arlington against Kansas State. Great game. The basketball team is ranked 11th in the country, and we go to those games as well. They’ve really got it going right now. It’s a special campus. Incredibly welcoming.”
The Blade: When you look at the landscape of college athletics right now, with NIL, sports gambling, and the transfer portal, how big a piece of you is like, “You know what, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about this mess anymore?”
O’Brien: “The business model has changed so much in just the last few years. There are things I totally miss and things I don’t miss at all. There’s chaos right now — the transfer portal as you indicated, the NIL business. The guardrails, there are none. It is concerning, I think, for many in the business. More than a couple of friends of mine have said, it’s definitely the same and I’m longing for the day that I can retire like you. It’s a very rewarding business, but right now, it’s as challenging as it’s ever been.”
First Published January 29, 2023, 1:30 p.m.
