By Matt Moscona
Brian O’Connor, who built the Virginia baseball program into a perennial contender, is leaving to become the new head coach at Mississippi State. He replaces Chris Lemonis who was fired in April during his seventh season at the helm of the Bulldogs’ program. Lemonis led the Bulldogs to their only national championship in 2021.
A new era begins.
Welcome to Starkville, Coach O’Connor.#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/Pm7JqSdrzb
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 2, 2025
O’Connor has been at the helm in Charlottesville since 2004. He brought the Cavaliers to the College World Series seven times, including winning the 2015 national title.
The 54-year-old Omaha, Neb., native played collegiately at Creighton before beginning his coaching career at his alma mater. After three seasons as the Blue Jays pitching coach, he joined Paul Mainieri’s staff at Notre Dame in 1995. He would spend nine seasons with the Irish before landing the Virginia job.
O’Connor inherits a program that has struggled to maintain national relevance after winning the CWS in 2021. The Bulldogs missed the postseason in 2022 and 2023 before being eliminated in the Regional round a season ago. After starting this year 7-14 in SEC play, Lemoins was fired. Interim coach Justin Parker rallied the Bulldogs to a 15-15 conference finish and a Regional berth.
Mississippi State is one of the most decorated programs in college baseball history with 41 regional appearances and 12 trips to the CWS. The Bulldogs were the national runner-up in 2013.
