Latest news with #BrianOConnor
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian O'Connor Introduced as New MSU Baseball Head Coach
Mississippi State baseball has introduced its new baseball head coach: Brian O'Connor. After 22 years at Virginia, a CWS National Championship and being inducted into the ABCA HOF, O'Conner says 'make no mistake,' MSU is the place for him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Mississippi State hires Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor
June 2 - 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. --Field Level Media
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to 7 CWS and 2015 national title, takes over at Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to seven College World Series appearances and a national championship, is leaving the Cavaliers to take over at Mississippi State. MSU announced O'Connor's hiring after the Bulldogs' season-ending 5-2 loss to Florida State on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament. The 54-year-old O'Connor won 917 games over 22 seasons at Virginia and was national coach of the year three times and Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the five times. Under O'Connor, the Cavaliers played in 18 NCAA regionals and nine super regionals, and his 2015 team won the national championship. He had 102 players selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, including 31 who reached the big leagues.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to 7 CWS and 2015 national title, takes over at Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to seven College World Series appearances and a national championship, is leaving the Cavaliers to take over at Mississippi State. MSU announced O'Connor's hiring after the Bulldogs' season-ending 5-2 loss to Florida State on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament. The 54-year-old O'Connor won 917 games over 22 seasons at Virginia and was national coach of the year three times and Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the five times. Under O'Connor, the Cavaliers played in 18 NCAA regionals and nine super regionals, and his 2015 team won the national championship. He had 102 players selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, including 31 who reached the big leagues. '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 fired seventh-year coach Chris Lemonis on April 28. Lemonis led the Bulldogs to the 2021 national championship but they mostly have struggled since. Justin Parker took over as interim coach and the Bulldogs closed with wins in 11 of their last 15 games and reached the Tallahassee Regional final. They finished 36-23. Athletic director Zac Selmon said MSU's hiring of O'Connor represents a 'powerful step forward.' Virginia had five seasons with 50 wins and 13 seasons with at least 40, and his .702 career winning percentage ranks second among active Division I coaches. O'Connor's team went 32-18 this season and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. '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,' Selmon said. 'Mississippi State is built to win at the highest level, and Coach O'Connor knows what that takes.' ___ AP college sports:
Reuters
29-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Report: Mississippi State targeting Virginia's Brian O'Connor as coach
Mississippi State is reportedly zeroing in on its new head baseball coach with Virginia's Brian O'Connor as the top target. According to O'Connor stands as the first option to take over the Bulldogs' program, with a deal reportedly in the works. The Cavaliers' coach since 2004, O'Connor has guided Virginia to 18 of the program's 21 NCAA tournament appearances. The Cavaliers missed the postseason this year, their first time falling short since 2019. In his career, O'Connor has amassed an 885-370-2 career record. Mississippi State fired coach Chris Lemonis in late April after seven years, noting that the program "has not consistently met the standard of success that our university, fans and student-athletes expect and deserve." The Bulldogs (34-21) have managed to advance to the 64-team NCAA Tournament under interim head coach Justin Parker and will face Northeastern on Friday as a No. 3 seed in the Tallahassee Regional hosted by Florida State. The Bulldogs went 232-135 under Lemonis, reaching the College World Series twice in his first three years, with his second year cut short due to the COVID-19) pandemic. Mississippi State never advanced further than the regional round over his final three full seasons. --Field Level Media
