On Sunday, Mississippi State hired Brian O’Connor to be their next head coach. The announcement came after the Bulldogs were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the Tallahassee regional.
In April, Mississippi State fired head coach Chris Lemonis, and Justin Parker took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
O’Connor heads to Starkville after 22 seasons coaching the Virginia Cavaliers. He is a five-time ACC Coach of the Year and led Virginia to 18 NCAA Tournaments. He won the national championship for the Cavaliers in 2015 and led them to the College World Series in Omaha seven times. His record as the head coach in Charlottesville is 917-388-2.
Virginia did not make the NCAA Tournament this season for the first time since 2019.
“Brian O’Connor is one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in college baseball,” Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon said in a press release. “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 seemed thrilled with the idea of head coaching one of college baseball’s most historic programs.
“Mississippi State represents everything I love about college baseball — tradition, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” O’Connor said in the school’s press 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.”
O’Connor officially is the 19th coach in Mississippi State’s long baseball history dating back to 1889. The program has made 41 NCAA Tournament appearances, 12 College World Series appearances, and won the National Championship in 2021.
Photo: Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor watches the rain during a rain delay in the seventh inning of the NCAA super regional college baseball game against Mississippi State in Charlottesville, Va., Sunday, June 9, 2013. The game was canceled and rescheduled to resume Monday, June 10, 2013 at 3pm. (Ap Photo/Andrew Shurtleff)
