STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen officially announced the hiring of Gary Henderson as the team’s new pitching coach Saturday.
A source said Thursday the two were close to coming to a deal. Cohen also promoted volunteer assistant and coordinator of camps Will Coggin to a full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Henderson comes to MSU after serving eight seasons as head coach at Kentucky. He worked as Cohen’s pitching coach at Kentucky from 2004-08.
“We are excited to have Gary join the Bulldog family, and are thrilled to have Will as an assistant coach,” Cohen said in a statement released by MSU. “Gary’s resume speaks for itself in what he has accomplished from developing Major League arms to his success in the Southeastern Conference. The staff we have assembled will be tremendous in developing our players and will help us continue our quest of winning championships.”
Henderson resigned from his post at Kentucky earlier in the month after leading the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament in 2012 and 2014. In 2012, he was named the SEC Coach of the Year after guiding Kentucky to an 18-12 record and second-place finish in the SEC Eastern Division in 2012. He took over for Cohen when Cohen left to become head coach at MSU in 2009.
The 28-year coach served as an assistant at Cal State Fullerton (1989), Riverside (Calif.) City College (1990), Chapman (Calif.) University (1991-92), Pepperdine (1994), Florida (1995-98), and Oregon State (1999-2002). Henderson began his coaching career as the junior varsity coach at San Diego State, his alma mater, in 1988. He was the head coach at Chapman in 1993.
Henderson played one season at Linfield (Ore.) College (1980) before transferring to San Diego State (1982-84). As a pitcher, he had a 19-5 record at both schools.
Henderson replaces Wes Johnson, who spent one seasons at MSU before leaving for the same position at Arkansas earlier in the week.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of such a storied program like Mississippi State,” Henderson said in a statement released by MSU. “John’s teams have always been synonymous with success and outstanding competitive spirit.”
Henderson served as the pitching coach on the USA Collegiate National team in the summer of 2015. Missouri’s Tanner Houck, Florida’s A.J. Puk, and Texas A&M’s Ryan Hendrix combined to no-hit Cuba in a 2-0 win that summer.
Henderson is the third pitching coach in the last nine months for Cohen. Johnson took over for Butch Thompson, who was named head coach at Auburn in October.
Coggin replaces Nick Mingione, who was hired to be Kentucky’s new head baseball coach. Coggin spent last season with MSU after serving three years as an assistant coach at St. Johns River (Fla.) State College. He was on Cohen’s staff from 2009-12. He played for MSU from 2007-08 after transferring from Northeast Mississippi Community College. He played for the Tigers from 2005-06.
n In related news, the St. Louis Cardinals announced the signing of pitcher Dakota Hudson.
The right-hander was taken with the last pick of the first round (34th overall) last week in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.
The details of his contract weren’t released, but the slot value of Hudson’s pick is $1,878,000. MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported Hudson signed for $2 million.
n On Saturday, Hudson and freshman outfielder were named third-team ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans.
The announcement marks the first time a Bulldog has received an ABCA/Rawlings All-America honor since Hunter Renfroe in 2013. It also marks the first time MSU has placed multiple players on the ABCA All-America list since Eric DuBose and Rob Hauswald in 1996.
The honor gives Hudson five All-America awards. He also was named a second-team All-American by Baseball America, Louisville Slugger, and the NCBWA and a third-team All-American by D1 Baseball.
Hudson led the Bulldogs with a 9-5 record and a 2.55 ERA, which is fifth in the SEC. He threw three complete games in 113 innings, allowing 106 hits and 35 walks. The junior had 115 strikeouts, good for fifth in the conference. That mark ties for eighth in MSU history with former Diamond Dawg All-American Jeff Brantley, who struck out 115 in 1984.
Hudson’s nine wins this season are the most by a Bulldog pitcher since Ross Mitchell had 13 in 2013.
Mangum also has received five All-America designations. Along with the ABCA/Rawlings honor, Mangum’s All-America laurels include first-team NCBWA Freshman, second-team NCBWA, third-team Baseball America and Louisville Slugger Freshman Team.
In addition to being MSU’s first SEC Freshman of the Year, Mangum became the first Bulldog rookie since Rafael Palmeiro in 1983 to be named first-team All-Southeastern Conference. Last month, the Pearl native was named the 2016 C Spire Ferriss Trophy, which is given annually to the best collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi.
With a .408 batting average, Mangum leads the SEC, is seventh nationally, and leads all freshmen in the nation in that category. Mangum also is fifth in the SEC in on-base percentage (.458) and seventh in hits (84).
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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