Virginia Cavalier head coach Brian O'Connor takes the field before the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Charles Schwab Filed Omaha. Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Virginia's Brian O'Connor reportedly the 'front runner' for Mississippi State job

Originally posted on Mississippi State Bulldogs on SI
By Taylor Hodges | Last updated May 29, 2025 11:25 AM ET

Mississippi State may be about to announce its “splash” baseball coaching hire.

D1Baseball.com managing editor reported Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor is the “clear-cut front-runner” to take over Mississippi State baseball, but a deal is not done.

BREAKING: A deal is not done just yet, but long-time @UVABaseball head coach Brian O’Connor has emerged as the clear-cut front runner to be the next head coach at @HailStateBB. His addition would be a blockbuster get for MSU AD Zac Selmon. #HailState pic.twitter.com/ZQdL0Z2Hvc
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) May 29, 2025

Baseball America is also reporting that O'Connor is the front-runner to land the job.

Long time Virginia coach Brian O'Connor is the favorite to become the new Mississippi State head baseball coach.

O'Connor led the Cavaliers to seven College World Series appearances and won the national title in 2015.

Virginia missed the tournament this year.… pic.twitter.com/7HIe0mzjrP
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 29, 2025

O’Connor has been a popular name associated with the Bulldogs’ search and has been at the top of our coaching hot board since only a couple of days after Chris Lemonis was fired. He’s led Virginia to the College World Series in three of the last five seasons and has a career record 913-392-2 (.699) since taking over the Cavaliers in 2004.

After being ranked No. 2 in preseason polls, Virginia did not make the NCAA Tournament this season, a rarity under O’Connor, which makes Rogers’ news believable. Especially, if you agree with what Rogers said on SportsTalk Mississippi yesterday.

“If that is who your coach is I think it comes out relatively quickly just because he's done with his season,” he said. “Why would you sit in Charlottesville for a week if you're going to be the next head coach of Mississippi State?”

Mississippi State did make the NCAA Tournament and is set to play its first game Friday in the Tallahassee NCAA Regional. The Bulldogs will face Northeastern in a matchup of great hitting vs. great pitching. But even that would take a back seat to the news of O’Conner taking over in Starkville.

I wouldn’t expect an official announcement from Mississippi State until after this weekend or whenever the Bulldogs exit the NCAA Tournament. But we are already starting to hear rumors and reports about potential assistant coaches who might join O'Connor in Starkville.

If Virginia baseball head coach Brian O’Connor accepts the Mississippi State job, sources tell @On3sports that Wake Forest pitching coach Corey Muscara will be a top candidate to join his staff. https://t.co/IIAkTEcDDY pic.twitter.com/Ju5eFvTDRZ
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) May 29, 2025