### Brian O'Connor Departs Virginia Baseball After 22 Seasons for Mississippi State

According to sources close to the team, Coach Brian O'Connor is making a significant career move, leaving Virginia baseball after an impressive 22-year tenure to take on the head coaching role at Mississippi State. The sources, opting to remain anonymous due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, confirmed the news.

In a heartfelt written message shared with The Cavalier Daily, O'Connor expressed his decision to embrace this new opportunity. "I have chosen to accept this opportunity because I need a new challenge and am excited about this next chapter of my life," O'Connor stated. The decision follows a week of speculation regarding O'Connor's potential move to Mississippi State, which has now been officially confirmed.

O'Connor further revealed that he will be joined by a part of his senior leadership team from Virginia. Associate head coach Kevin McMullan, assistant coach Matt Kirby, and Justin Armistead, the associate athletic director for baseball administration, will accompany him to Starkville.

O'Connor leaves Virginia with an extraordinary legacy. He is the program's all-time leader in wins, securing a remarkable 917 victories. Additionally, O'Connor tops the charts in several key performance metrics, including winning percentage, ACC victories, and NCAA Tournament success. More than 100 former Cavalier players have been drafted into Major League Baseball under his guidance.

In his emotional farewell to the team, O'Connor expressed deep gratitude. "I want to thank each of you for your dedication, tireless work, and loyalty during our time together," he said. "You and the many players before you have made Virginia baseball what it is, as you have heard me say before - it is the players that make the program what it is."

O'Connor's departure signifies the conclusion of the most triumphant era in Virginia baseball's history. He noted that the administration will soon devise a plan to find his successor and keep the program informed throughout the process.

This past season in 2025, the Cavaliers faced significant challenges, ending with a 32-18 record and missing the NCAA Tournament—the third such miss under O'Connor. The team struggled with inconsistent pitching and offensive slumps.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State experienced a more favorable 36-24 season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament before being ousted by Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional. As O'Connor steps into his new role at Mississippi State, he leaves behind a storied legacy at Virginia and looks ahead to new challenges and opportunities in Starkville.