On Monday, the Mississippi State Bulldogs parted ways with head coach Chris Lemonis after almost seven full seasons.
With an open position available at one of college baseball’s best programs, here are three candidates for the head coaching job in Starkville.
Dan Fitzgerald, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks – After a run as an assistant coach for the Dallas Baptist Patriots and LSU Tigers from 2013-2022. Dan Fitzgerald took over the head coaching job for the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence.
For a program that historically had trouble finding footing, Fitzgerald has grown Kansas baseball into something special. Since his first season in 2023, the Jayhawks have improved their record.
Last season, he led Kansas to 31 wins. This season, the Jayhawks are currently 35-10 overall and are a top 25 team in D1 Baseball’s rankings.
Fitzgerald’s ability to shift a baseball program from aimlessness to a Big 12 contender makes him a good candidate for Mississippi State.
With a brief stint in the SEC at LSU, the Kansas coach could want a crack at SEC baseball in a head coaching spot.
Josh Elander, Associate Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers – Josh Elander has become one of the highly targeted assistant coaches due to the growing success of Tennessee baseball.
Following a playing career for the TCU Horned Frogs, Elander volunteered to be an assistant coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He went to Knoxville and joined Tony Vitello’s coaching staff in 2018.
What makes Elander a great option is that he handles the recruiting for Tennessee, and the Volunteers have had a top five class every year since 2023, according to Perfect Game. Tennessee has been one of the best recruiting teams in the country, and Elander is leading the charge in that.
An offer for his first head coaching job could be on the table if Mississippi State presents it.
Will Coggin, Assistant Coach, Georgia Bulldogs – Will Coggin handles the hitting coaching for Wes Johnson’s staff at Georgia. It is safe to say that the job he has done in Athens has been a good one.
Coggin coached Charlie Condon into the 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner with a spectacular season. That same season, Georgia went 43-17 and was on the brink of going to the College World Series.
Georgia finished second in the country in home run hitting with 151 as a team in 2024. This was the most home runs hit by a single team in the Bulldogs’ history. This season, Georgia leads the country in home runs with 112.
The job Coggin has done coaching offenses has made him a great candidate for Mississippi State already. However, on top of all of that, he was a former player and assistant coach in Starkville.
This would be a great reunion for Coggin. He could bring his offensive mastermind back home to Mississippi State for his first head coaching job.
Photo: Mississippi State will need to find a new head baseball coach after firing Chris Lemonis, shown here during an NCAA baseball game against Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
