William Paterson University Athletics

Former Pioneer Justin O’Connor begins his ninth season overall (2003, 2005-12) as a William Paterson assistant coach, working with the overall offense in 2012 after a number of years as the tight ends coach.  Now working alongside his brother Sean, the Pioneers’ second-year quarterbacks coach, Justin has helped develop such standouts as all-conference selection Chris Schule (2009).

A standout tight end himself, O’Connor played at Penn State University and, eventually, William Paterson in 2001 and 2002.  O’Connor started assisting with the tight ends in 2003, this after a solid career wearing William Paterson black and orange.  In 2002, he caught 20 passes and was an honorable-mention all-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) selection.  Moreover, he was named one of the nation’s top pro prospects in the 2002-03 Pro Football Weekly Pro Prospects Preview.  O’Connor started his college career on scholarship at Penn State, where he played in the 1994 Rose Bowl for the Big Ten champions, who finished 12-0 and were ranked No. 2 in the season’s final polls.

O’Connor served a tour of duty as part of the Army Reserves in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and he also served in the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell, Ky., from 1997-99.  A firefighter in Ridgewood, he and his wife, Lisa, reside in Wayne.