AURORA | With former head football coach Robert O’Brien joining the college coaching ranks, Hinkley is moving forward in the process of replacing him.
O’Brien led the Thunderbirds to a 5-15 mark over the past two seasons, but recently stepped down from the job in order to accept a post as a defensive assistant coach at the Colorado School of Mines.
Hinkley athletic director Tristen Fibiger lauded O’Brien for his time with the program and wished him well in the future.
“I am so very happy and pleased for Robert O’Brien and his promotion to the collegiate level for coaching football,” Fibiger told the Sentinel. “He is a brilliant football mind and truly cares about his players. We will miss him dearly, but happy to have helped him start this awesome career.”
O’Brien, a math teacher at Hinkley, was the junior varsity coach and varsity defensive assistant in the 2013 season under Jaron Cohen, who led the Thunderbirds to a 5A state playoff berth that season before leaving to take over at Ponderosa.
After Hinkley finished 2-8 in 2014 and 3-7 in 2015, O’Brien found his own chance to move forward with his career with the Orediggers, who posted an 8-3 record in the 2015 season.
“I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to continue my coaching career and chase my dream,” O’Brien said in a Facebook post. “A huge thanks to my Hinkley Family for the support and opportunities they gave me.”
With O’Brien gone, Hinkley posted the job on the Aurora Public Schools’ website and closed it. Around 25 applicants expressed interest and Fibiger said the number has been cut to six after the first round of interviews. It could be pared to three by the end of the week.
“We did a national search and are excited about some of the potential that came from it,” she said.
Whoever is hired will become Hinkley’s fifth head coach in six seasons, following O’Brien (2014 & 2015), Cohen (2013), Joe McKain (2012) and Bob Bozied (2011).
Cherokee Trail filled the only other known head coaching vacancy among Aurora prep football programs when it hired longtime assistant Dain Mangnall to take over for original coach Monte Thelen.
Not only will Hinkley start next season with a new coach, but it will also be in a new environment.
The Colorado High School Activities Association’s recently-approved waterfall realignment — based on the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) from the last two seasons — moved Hinkley into a conference along with Mangnall’s Cherokee Trail team plus 5A runner-up Pomona, Chaparral, Mountain Vista and Rock Canyon.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel