Mississippi State hires Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor

Mississippi State announced the hiring of longtime Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor to lead its program.

O'Connor, 54, guided the Cavaliers to a College World Series championship in 2015 and was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2024.

A three-time national coach of the year and five-time Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, O'Connor racked up 917 wins and seven College World Series appearances at Virginia from 2004-25.

"This is a defining moment for Mississippi State Baseball," athletic director Zac Selmon said. "Brian O'Connor is one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in college baseball. He's a national champion, a Hall of Famer, and a proven leader with a track record of building a championship-caliber program."

O'Connor's hiring was announced on Sunday night, only hours after the Bulldogs' season-ending 5-2 loss to Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional final.

"Mississippi State represents everything I love about college baseball -- tradition, passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence," O'Connor said. "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 replaces Chris Lemonis, who was fired on April 28 amid his seventh season. Justin Parker finished the season as the interim coach. Lemonis guided the Bulldogs to their first national championship in 2021.