Brian O’Connor was hired as head coach in August 2018 after three seasons as an assistant with the Prairie Fire. In his first 3 seasons as the Prairie Fire head coach he has guided the program to 43-16-3 record including a 24-3 record in MWC play.
Along with their stellar record, the Fire have won 2 regular season MWC Championships, 2 MWC tournament championships and made 2 appearances in the NCAA tournament under O'Connor. Along with tremendous team success the Prairie Fire have accumulated many individual honors: 14 All-MWC performers, 6 All-Region selections, 2 MWC Defensive Player of the Year awards, 1 MWC Attacking Player of the Year Award and All-American team member.
Prior to joining the Prairie Fire Coach O'Connor was an assistant coach with for his alma mater, Illinois College, in 2014 when the Blueboys advanced to the Midwest Conference tournament for the first time since 1993.
In 2015, O’Connor translated his experience playing as an attacker in the lower leagues of Germany to help coach Knox’s offensive players. The Prairie Fire ranked third in the country in goals scored per game. They also scored the most goals in program history.
In 2016/2017 O’Connor’s recruiting helped bolster the Prairie Fire’s depth so the team didn’t skip a beat after two record-setting seasons. The result was a team that was one of the best in the region.
As a collegiate athlete, Coach O'Connor was a four-year men’s soccer letter winner at Illinois College. He also garnered All-Midwest Conference honors as a senior attacking midfielder in 2009 and helped lead the team to its best season in 16 years. He joined the U.S. Army after graduating in 2010 and served tours of duty while stationed in Germany and Afghanistan. O’Connor holds an NSCAA diploma.
A native of Pleasant Plains, Illinois, O’Connor and his wife Sarah reside in Galesburg with their sons, Declan and Everett. The family enjoys spending free time on Knox’s beautiful campus and watching all Knox athletic events."
