Wagner College Athletics

Patrick O’Connor, who made a name for himself both on and off the field as a model student-athlete during his Seahawk career, enters his first season as assistant defensive backs coach in 2013.

A 6-1, 190-pound free safety, O’Connor played in 45 games during his Seahawk career, while gaining a starting assignment 22 times. After gaining experience as a reserve and on special teams in his first two seasons, O’Connor broke out over the course of his junior and senior years as a standout member of the Seahawks’ defense.

As a junior in 2011, O’Connor started in nine of the 10 games in which he appeared, finishing fourth on the team with 55 tackles to go along with two fumble recoveries on the year. O’Connor’s efforts helped spearhead a Wagner defense that ranked No. 1 in the NEC in three different categories: rushing defense (141.1 yards per game), red zone defense (71.8%) and takeaways (29).

In his senior season of 2012, O’Connor emerged as one of the stars of a Seahawk defensive unit that top ranked defensive unit while earning Second-Team All-NEC honors and being named NEC Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions.

The Seahawks finished 9-4 in a landmark season a year ago, one that saw Coach Hamline’s squad claim the school’s first NEC Football title,  become the first NEC program to win an FCS playoff game, and ranked 21^st in the nation in the final Sports Network FCS poll. O’Connor finished his final season ranked second on the team with 86 tackles, including a team leading 50 solo tackles, while notching eight pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception

During the postseason he was recognized for his accomplishments both on and off the field of play. Along with picking up All-Northeast Conference honors, he was named, along with 54 other players from across the country, to the 2012 Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team along with teammate Steve Ciocci.

O’Connor’s exceptional career as a student-athlete came to a close on a fitting notes at Senior Awards Banquet in May when he was the recipient of the 2013 Con Edison Scholar Athlete of the Year Award.