The son of Irish born parents, Vincent O'Connor was born in Brooklyn along with his two younger brothers James and Dennis. All three attended Holy Name elementary school and Manual Training High School (later renamed John Jay High School). While attending high school, Mr. O'Connor participated in varsity football, track, the school orchestra, and served as school president. During his high school days he was active in the parish of St. Francis Xavier and was greatly influenced by the spiritual leadership of the Reverend John Kean.
After high school Mr. O'Connor worked as a machinist for three years before entering the U.S. Army and serving eighteen months in Korea. Upon his discharge, he entered the Physical Education program at New York University and was appointed the J.V. Football coach at St. Francis Prep by Brother Timothy Walsh, O.S.F. During his senior year at New York University, Brother Cyprian Zorskis, O.S.F, appointed Mr. O'Connor varsity coach at St. Francis Prep. His coaching career was marked by early success as the Terriers won the Catholic High School Championship in 1955, his first year as coach.
After graduation from New York University with a B.S. in Physical Education, Mr. O'Connor attained an M.S. in Health and Physical Education from Brooklyn College plus an M.A. and Professional Diploma in Guidance and Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University.
In 1957 one year after teaching Biology at St. Francis Prep, Mr. O'Connor returned to Manual High School as teacher of physical education. After nine years he was appointed as a guidance counselor at G. Westinghouse High School. One year later, Mr. O'Connor was selected as the guidance counselor for the "College Bound" program at S.J. Tilden High School. During this same period, Mr. O'Connor served as coach of field events at St. Francis Prep for eight years (1953-61). He was also head track coach at John Jay High School for four years (1962-66).
In January 1971, Mr. O'Connor was appointed as Assistant Principal (Supervision) for Health and Physical Education in School District 19, in East New York area of Brooklyn. He is also a member of the Board of trustees at Bishop Ford Catholic Central High School (14 years) and for the past 10 years has served as the chairperson of the board. Over the years, he has served on many committees associated with the field of health and Physical Education, and has also been a member of a variety of professional and social organizations.
The Varsity Football Program at St. Francis Prep has achieved an outstanding record of success under Mr. O'Connor's leadership, and he attributes much of this to the dedication and skill of the assistant coaches who have served with him these past fifty years. Under Coach O'Connor, the St. Francis Prep Varsity Football Team has recorded 290 victories and they have won 14 CHSFL Championships (Including undefeated seasons in 1957, '64, '66, '72, '73, and '83).
Coach O'Connor was honored as National Coach of the year in 1992, and has been named New York's Catholic High School Coach of the Year on twenty occasions. He has also served as President of the CHSFL. In 2000 he was the recipient of the Frank McGuire Foundation Award, which recognizes high school coaches whose dedication and skill have a positive impact on young lives.
His lovely wife, Mary, his son, Martin, his daughter, Mary Rose, son-in-law Patrick, and his three wonderful grandchildren, Connor, Patrick, and Dylan, have been his inspiration, and he wears the label "Devoted Husband, Father, and Grandfather" as well as he does his title of "Coach".
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