Brian O'Connor's Contract Terms With Mississippi State Baseball Unveiled

UVA athletic director Carla Williams released a statement on the departure of O'Connor:

"We are extremely grateful for Coach Brian O'Connor for his 22 years of outstanding leadership and service not only to our baseball program but to the University and Charlottesville communities. He established Virginia Baseball as the model for everything important to this community, including his incredible development of young men on and off the field and his commitment to integrity, hard work, and academics. Coach O'Connor built a national championship program and that legacy is driving very strong interest in the position. We are indebted to him and his family for their dedication to the University of Virginia. Our national search began moments after he informed me of his decision on Sunday evening and we are making significant progress. With the tremendous support from our donors and our fans over the last two decades, we look forward to hiring a head coach that will build upon the excellence that already exists and continue competing for championships."

It will be interesting to see how quickly this job gets filled. There are a number of players already hitting the transfer portal and a number of coaches from O'Connor's staff that is leaving for Mississippi State. It should be a coveted job around the country, but the timing is going to be something to watch going forward.

O'Connor had this to say about taking the job at Mississippi State:

"Mississippi State represents everything I love about college baseball — tradition, passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence. 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 took over the Virginia program in 2004 and quickly elevated it into a national power. In 22 seasons, he led the Cavaliers to: O'Connor's seven College World Series appearances are also the third most among active NCAA head coaches. Virginia had made just three NCAA appearances before his arrival. He also became the second-fastest coach in ACC history to reach 500 career wins.

O’Connor entered the 2025 season with a career record of 885-370-2 and a 362-234-1 record in ACC play. He is one of eight coaches in the history of the ACC to accumulate 700 wins and his .705 winning percentage is the highest among active NCAA coaches.

O’Connor guided Virginia to 14-consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2004-2017. Virginia is one of 16 programs ever to advance to an NCAA Regional for 14-straight years. This success has led to record crowds, excitement, and national exposure for Virginia Baseball, highlighted by the Cavaliers’ national championship in 2015.

A three-time National Coach of the Year, O’Connor is the second-fastest ACC coach to reach 500 career wins. He ranks eighth in ACC history in career wins, eighth in career ACC victories, fourth with 66 career NCAA tournament wins and tied for eighth with 31 ACC tournament wins.

His UVA teams have racked up 13 40-win seasons and played host to 11 NCAA regionals and seven NCAA super regionals. Since 2009, UVA owns 60 NCAA tournament wins — tied for the fourth most in the nation.

O’Connor was named the National Coach of the Year in 2015 by the ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball and Perfect Game, marking the third year he has earned such an honor. He was tabbed the 2009 NCBWA and CollegeBaseballInsider.com National Coach of the Year and also was named the 2006 College Baseball Foundation Coach of the Year. He is a five-time recipient of ABCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year laurels (2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015) and five-time ACC Coach of the Year honoree (2004, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014). O’Connor was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2017.

One-hundred and two of O’Connor’s Virginia players have been selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft including 16 in the first round. Left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen was taken second overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, marking UVA’s highest draft pick ever. Three Cavaliers were selected in the first round in 2014, the most of any program in the country. UVA was the only program in the nation to have at least one player chosen in the first round of the MLB Draft from 2014-18, including Pavin Smith and Adam Haseley, who were chosen back-to-back in the top 10 in 2017, marking the first position players from the same college to go in the top 10 since 1988. Since 2014, Virginia has had multiple players selected in the first two rounds seven times, the most in the country.

Let's see how quickly Virginia works to fill the open vacancy.