Mississippi State Baseball Makes Major Announcement as Season Ends
The run is over. And just like that, Mississippi State's 2025 campaign ends not with a bang, but with a new manager.
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Hail State managed to round up some late-season magic, knocking off Northeastern and snapping the Huskies' jaw-dropping 27-game win streak in their opening regional game. But the dream fizzled fast, as two straight losses to regional host Florida State brought the curtain down on a rollercoaster season. The Seminoles didn't just win—they bulldozed their way through, reasserting their dominance.
But even as the final out came, the next chapter was already taking shape. Mississippi State didn't wait long to signal a new beginning.
Athletic Director Zac Selmon turned to X (formerly Twitter) to tease the coming news. But this wasn't your typical press release. Selmon posted a short clip of maroon smoke rising from a grill in the Left Field Lounge. For the uninitiated, it was a clever riff on Vatican tradition, where white smoke signals the election of a new Pope. The timing wasn't lost on anyone, especially with the recent announcement of Pope Leo XIV just weeks prior.
In Starkville, the smoke meant one thing that a new head coach was coming. Brian O'Connor will be taking over in Starkville.
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The longtime Virginia skipper is one of the most respected names in college baseball. During his 21 seasons in Charlottesville, O'Connor turned the Cavaliers into a national power—winning a College World Series title in 2015, making seven trips to Omaha, and stacking up a career 885–370–2 record. He's a five-time conference coach of the year with two ACC championships under his belt. His teams won 60% of their conference games. This isn't just a good hire. It's a power move.
And make no mistake about it, Mississippi State needed one.
'We have not consistently met the standard of success that our university, fans, and student-athletes deserve,' Selmon said in a statement. 'A change in leadership is what's best for the future of Mississippi State Baseball.'
Related: Why Mississippi State Baseball should be a highly prestigious position
There's talent in Starkville—that much was clear during the late-season push under interim coach Justin Parker, who guided the Bulldogs to wins in nine of their final ten regular-season games. They went 1–3 in postseason play, but the spark was real.
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Now, O'Connor steps into the teeth of the SEC—undeniably the most competitive conference in college baseball. It's a gauntlet, even for a seasoned veteran.
But this is Mississippi State. The expectations are sky-high, the fans are locked in, and the smoke has cleared.
It's time to see what comes next.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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