STARKVILLE — Mississippi State head baseball coach Brian O’Connor is retaining pitching coach Justin Parker on his staff in Starkville, The Dispatch learned on Thursday.
An MSU athletics department spokesperson confirmed the appointment, and MSU shared a statement from the new head coach.
“Justin is one of the most respected pitching minds in college baseball and he cares deeply about Mississippi State Baseball,” O’Connor said. “He has an ability to recruit, communicate with the players and develop elite pitchers. I know Justin will put everything he has into our pitchers, both as young men and baseball players. I am excited for us to get to work.”
Parker served as interim head coach of the Bulldogs from April 28 through the end of the season, leading the team to a 9-1 regular season finish to get to 15-15 in the Southeastern Conference and earn a spot in the postseason. He led the team to the Tallahassee Regional, where the Bulldogs’ run came to an end against hosts Florida State.
“The Mississippi State fanbase and community has welcomed me and my family to Starkville the last two years,” Parker said. “I’ve always admired Coach O’Connor, his staff and their program, and I am excited to join them in creating something special at Mississippi State. I am looking forward to continue building on the unmatched tradition and support that this community offers. Hail State.”
Parker arrived as the pitching coach in 2023 under former head coach Chris Lemonis and quickly helped revive the Bulldog bullpen. After two losing seasons, the team rebounded in 2024 thanks to strong work on the mound, with the Bulldogs becoming a top 15 pitching team in Division I.
While there was some drop-off in 2025 as the Bulldogs searched for reliable starters, ace Pico Kohn showed a strong recovery from injury after two years of working with Parker. After becoming the interim head coach, performances from Evan Siary and Karson Ligon helped MSU pick up momentum to end the season, and the bullpen was once again a strength under Parker.
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