STARKVILLE — Mississippi State announced the hiring of the 19th head baseball coach in program history on Sunday, naming Hall of Famer Brian O’Connor shortly after the conclusion of MSU’s NCAA tournament run. O’Connor joins the Bulldogs after 20 years as head coach at Virginia, where he led the Cavaliers to their only national championship in 2015.
“Mississippi State represents everything I love about college baseball: tradition, passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” O’Connor said in a university release. “I’ve coached against this program and followed it closely for years. The atmosphere at Dudy Noble Field is nationally recognized as the best in the sport. I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead a program with this kind of legacy and fan base. Mississippi State has set the standard in college baseball, and I can’t wait to get to work, build relationships and compete for championships in Starkville.”
Athletic Director Zac Selmon considered the MSU job to be one of the premier jobs in college baseball, and his appointment of a championship-winning veteran supports that claim.
“Brian O’Connor is one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in college baseball,” Selmon said of his new hire. “He’s a national champion, a Hall of Famer, and a proven leader with a track record of building a championship-caliber program. Mississippi State is built to win at the highest level, and Coach O’Connor knows what that takes. From elite player development to consistent success on the national stage, his résumé speaks for itself. He understands the standard here and embraces the opportunity to elevate it even further. This is a defining moment for Mississippi State Baseball and a powerful step forward for our program, our players and our fans.”
O’Connor boasts a 917-388-2 career record as a head coach, winning three National Coach of the Year awards. He was named head coach at UVA in 2004 after a decade as an assistant coach with Creighton and Notre Dame. He oversaw the most successful period in Cavaliers baseball history, including a national championship in 2015, seven College World Series appearances and two ACC championships.
O’Connor’s Cavaliers have met the Bulldogs five times, including two wins in 2024 at the Charlottesville regional on UVA’s way to the College World Series. The Bulldogs took down the Cavaliers in Omaha in 2021 on their way to a national championship.
O’Connor becomes the permanent successor to Chris Lemonis, who was relieved of his duties as MSU head coach after 7 years on April 28, with pitching coach Justin Parker taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Lemonis left Starkville with a 232-135 record and two College World Series appearances. The Bulldogs made it to Omaha in 2019 and 2021, winning the school’s national championship on the latter trip. The follow-up to the championship was unremarkable to say the least, with losing seasons in both 2022 and 2023.
The Bulldogs were 7-14 in SEC play when Lemonis was fired, and finished 15-15 in conference play to secure a postseason berth. They traveled to the Tallahassee Regional, winning two games against Northeastern but falling twice to hosts Florida State to end the season.
O’Connor will be introduced at a public welcome event at Dudy Noble Field at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
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