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Inside Zac Selmon’s Bold Hire of Brian O’Connor

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Corder | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 9:20 AM ET

It’s not often that a coach with a national title and two decades of success leaves the only program he’s ever led. But Mississippi State found a way. In a move that has shaken the college baseball world, Brian O’Connor is heading to Starkville, and it wasn’t money, prestige, or even pressure that sealed the deal. According to Mississippi State Athletic Director Zac Selmon, it was something deeper.

“It always starts with connection,” Selmon said during O’Connor’s introductory press conference Thursday night. “A common vision of what sport can do. We know winning is the output, but what are the meaningful inputs? That’s where Coach O’Connor and I aligned.”

O’Connor, who led Virginia to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven College World Series trips, and a national championship in 2015, leaves Charlottesville with a 917–388–2 record and a .705 winning percentage. He is widely regarded as one of the most consistent and respected figures in college baseball.

Selmon said the process of bringing O’Connor to Starkville wasn’t just about resumes or results, it was about a shared commitment to developing players both on and off the diamond.

“You hear a lot about player development,” Selmon noted. “But what really resonated was his passion for developing the person. That’s what’s really cool about college sport.”

The hiring came on the heels of a turbulent but spirited postseason for Mississippi State. Just days after parting ways with former head coach Chris Lemonis, the Bulldogs made a surprise run into the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament. It was a week filled with emotion, and one that culminated in Selmon securing what many are calling one of the top hires in college baseball this year.

“It’s been a week full of emotions,” Selmon said. “From seeing our guys respond to adversity, to getting the team ready for the postseason, to now bringing in a coach like Brian, it’s been affirming how special Starkville really is.”

While O’Connor’s resume is enough to turn heads, the bigger story may be why he chose to leave Virginia at all. After 22 seasons, he had nothing left to prove, but Mississippi State gave him something new to build.

Selmon summed it up best: “This is a place where people choose to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Tonight proves that.”

As the Diamond Dawgs prepare for a new era under O’Connor, the message from Selmon is clear: Mississippi State isn’t just chasing wins, it’s building something lasting.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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