Less than a week into Brian O’Connor’s tenure as Mississippi State’s baseball coach, a whole lot of big things have happened for the 2026 roster. O’Connor got off the plane in Starkville late Sunday night and the coach admittedly has not slept for more than three or four hours since.

UVA Baseball coach Brian O’Connor celebrates the team’s 5-2 win over Dallas Baptist that sent the ‘Hoos to the 2021 College World Series. Photo courtesy UVA Athletics. But you also couldn ...

Brian O’Connor last started from scratch 22 seasons ago. He was 32 years old when he was hired as the Virginia baseball coach before the 2004 season, his first time as a head coach.

Mississippi State welcomed new head baseball coach Brian O'Connor to the Bulldog Family at a celebration on June 5, 2025, at Dudy Noble Field.

The world learned Thursday night that Brian O’Connor, who had signed an extension with UVA just last June that paid him $1.4 million a year, making him the eight-highest-paid coach in college baseball, is now the second-highest-paid coach in college baseball, at $2.9 million a year.

O’Connor’s attraction to the Bulldogs is reasonable. Mississippi State boats elite facilities, a large fanbase and competes in the rigorous, prestigious SEC. The Bulldogs’ stadium has a seating capacity almost three times larger than Virginia’s, plus 41 NCAA Tournament appearances throughout program history — compared to just 21 by the Cavaliers.

Mississippi State head baseball coach Brian O'Connor has added another key piece to his inaugural coaching staff in Starkville, announcing the hiring of

The odd silence about that one really uncomfortable thing about Brian O'Connor's tenure as the UVA Baseball – two words: Karl Kuhn – is beginning to lift.