STARKVILLE — Lipscomb came to Starkville with a gameplan to try and nick a goal on what they expected to be very few attacking possessions, dig in and try to repel a Mississippi State team with a reputation for controlling possession and tempo in the NCAA Tournament First Round last month.

The visitors, led by head coach Kevin O’Brien, knew that they would be limited in their opportunities, so they embraced it. A team that went undefeated at home and averaged nearly two goals and 14.3 shots per game swallowed its pride and dug in on their trip to Starkville.

It worked.

Bella Carapazza scored on the team’s first shot on target – one of just three shots all game – and goalkeeper Karina Cesar and her defense held off a second-half siege to upset the Bulldogs, 1-0.

“For us, the script couldn’t have played out any better,” O’Brien said after the game. He took time to share his thanks for the hospitality at Mississippi State on his third visit as an opposing coach, as well as the atmosphere that welcomed the team, before getting into the winning moment.

“Bella’s goal, phenomenal for her to make the 60-yard from the center circle,” O’Brien said. “The first touch, the finish was class.”

Twenty-two days later, O’Brien sat in the same room at the MSU soccer field house, having left the program he called home for 14 years to meet his new team of Bulldogs.

“I am incredibly honored to join Mississippi State and lead this exceptional group of young women,” O’Brien said in a university press release. “Over the years, my family and I have felt the passion, pride and warmth that define the Starkville community and the Bulldog family every time we visited campus. I am deeply grateful to Zac Selmon for his belief in me. It is clear that we are fully aligned in our commitment to competitive excellence and to developing our student-athletes not only into the best players they can be but into strong leaders in life. Mississippi State is a special place, and Shannon and I are excited to invest in this program, our student-athletes and a community that cares so deeply. I cannot wait to get started.”

Per a team spokesperson, O’Brien met with the MSU squad on Sunday around lunchtime, and rather than giving a lecture on what they can expect from him he gave the players the opportunity to talk to him and ask questions about his coaching style.

Change of pace

In 14 years at Lipscomb, O’Brien had several opportunities to leave, but has taken this one because of the opportunity to continue building the program. He told the players as much, showing an awareness that he will be the team’s third head coach in as many seasons and doesn’t plan on leaving.

One point of emphasis from the players was the focus on tactical identity and the intense sessions that the team experienced under now former head coach Nick Zimmerman and assistant coach Jonathan Garbar, who would reportedly spend nearly two hours on some film sessions alone.

When asked about watching game film, O’Brien told the group to expect no more than a half hour or so, which was reportedly received with relief.

Zimmerman was respected and appreciated by players as a tactically driven coach who wanted to play the game a certain way and led with professional development in his recruiting pitch to players. His team’s emphasized possession and dominating the tempo of the game.

While Zimmerman had success in his lone season as head coach at MSU, his quick departure for Florida once again brought uncertainty to the program as it tries to continue building on a period of unprecedented success. In his Florida announcement, he was quoted as saying, “I think if I can recruit to Starkville, I can recruit to Gainesville.”

As Zimmerman’s replacement, Selmon appears to have found someone in O’Brien who will be there for the long haul.

O’Brien was described to The Dispatch as more of a relationships-based coach who values the connections and development of his players and staff above the game itself, and tactically works to play in a way that best suits the strengths of his players. As demonstrated on the field last month, and in 2018 for another 1-0 postseason win over the Bulldogs, his teams at Lipscomb were able to adapt on a game-by-game basis to match their strengths against opponents.

Next steps

O’Brien faces a similar challenge to many coaches now; both assembling and keeping a team together.

The transfer portal is open until Dec. 17 for women’s soccer, and several MSU players have already entered, but are weighing their options. Sophomore midfielder/defender Kennedy Husbands has already made her transfer to Auburn official, but O’Brien is taking time to speak to several other players who are weighing their options, notably SEC All-Freshman midfielder Adia Symmonds and All-Region forward Zoe Main.

The new head coach also needs to assemble his staff. Assistant Jonathan Garbar has already joined Zimmerman at Florida, but assistant coaches Henry Zapata and Kat Stratton remain options for O’Brien to retain. Stratton has family ties to MSU, and has excelled as an assistant coaching the goalkeepers, defense and set pieces in her six years on staff.

Zapata, who has more than 15 years of coaching experience, joined the staff in 2025 and has been heavily involved in coaching the defense as well as coordinating recruiting for the next class of Bulldogs.