Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo was faced with a crisis in August of last year. Niumatalolo had determined that assistant coach Buddy Green's health would not allow him to coach the 2015 season and suddenly the Midshipmen were in need of both a defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Promoting Dale Pehrson, the longest-tenured member of the staff, to defensive coordinator was an easy decision. Deciding which assistant should coach the defensive backs was a bit more difficult.
Ultimately, Niumatalolo was comfortable putting Dan O'Brien in charge of the secondary even though he was the shortest-tenured member of the staff.