Holly Strauss-O’Brien was named deputy director of athletics at Loyola University Chicago on August 1, 2018. She also serves as Loyola's senior women's administrator and is the program admin for women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's volleyball, men's soccer, women's golf, softball and track and field/cross country.
Strauss-O'Brien directly oversees the Ramblers' Sports Performance, Sports Medicine, Business/Finance, Compliance and Academics departments. She also served on the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball committee from 2020-23 and was the chair for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Prior to her arrival in Rogers Park, Strauss-O’Brien worked at the University of Hartford from November 2016 to July 2018.
During the 2017-18 academic year, Strauss-O’Brien served as the deputy athletics director at Hartford, where she also doubled as the senior woman administrator and was the program administrator for five sports as well as the areas of athletics development/fundraising, sports medicine and strength and conditioning.
She joined Hartford in 2015 as the associate athletics director for advancement and one year later, she was promoted to senior associate athletics director for development and internal operations. In that capacity, she provided oversight for the Hawks’ internal operations, including student-athlete welfare, compliance, sports medicine, financial aid, academics and coaches’ development, along with sport team administration.
“We are thrilled to add someone with Holly’s experience to this critical role on our administrative staff,” Loyola Director of Athletics Steve Watson said. “Holly is a rising star in the profession and also brings a unique perspective having previously served as a head coach. I look forward to the leadership and expertise she will bring to Loyola as we continue to provide a first-class student-athlete experience.”
Prior to shifting gears and moving into the administrative side of collegiate athletics, Strauss-O’Brien was the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Connecticut from 2005-14, posting a career .617 winning percentage and earning Big East Conference Coach of the Year accolades in 2013. She guided the Huskies to postseason play in eight of her 10 seasons in Storrs.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Strauss-O’Brien was a part of four Tar Heels volleyball teams that reached the NCAA tournament and helped the squad to a 32-4 overall record, Sweet 16 appearance and a No. 8 national ranking in 2002.
She earned her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut and her family is no stranger to Rogers Park as her husband, Tim, served as the head coach of both the Loyola men’s and women’s volleyball programs for one season.
