Mississippi State baseball has made the widely-anticipated decision to move on from head coach Chris Lemonis. Since leading the Diamond Dawgs to their first ever national title in 2021, the program has drastically fallen-off. On the verge of missing a regional for the third time in four years, a change is being made in Starkville.
The State job figures to be a wildly attractive one. The program has a long history of winning, the best facilities and fan support in the nation, and invests heavily into the sport. MSU will have the chance to land a proven, high-level coach.
So who will AD Zac Selmon target? Here are 10 potential names to consider...
Clemson Tigers head coach Erik Bakich
Bulldog fans expect to swing for a big name, and Clemson's Erik Bakich is one of the biggest. He helped build up Maryland, had a great run at Michigan highlighted by taking the Wolverines to the 2019 College World Series finals, and now in his third season at Clemson, his Tigers are trending towards a second-straight national seed. He's a proven winner with postseason success. Plucking him would be difficult, but MSU's investment in baseball could be appealing.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Nick Mingione
This is an obvious choice. Nick Mingione spent nine years as an assistant in Starkville under John Cohen, helping the Bulldogs reach the 2013 CWS finals and win the 2016 SEC Championship. Since then he's become the best coach in Kentucky history, leading the Cats to an SEC title, three Super Regionals, and the 2024 CWS. There's been some up-and-down to his tenure in Lexington, but he knows MSU and what it takes to win there.
Tennessee Volunteers assistant Josh Elander
Most fans will want a proven HC, but if State were to go the assistant route, there's no better target than Tennessee Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Josh Elander. Elander, who's been with the Vols since 2018, is Tony Vitello's top assistant in Knoxville. A part of three CWS teams and the 2024 national champions, he's helped Tennessee consistently be one of the top offensive teams in the nation while attracting elite talent to Rocky Top. Vitello has made the Vols a baseball powerhouse, and Josh Elander could bring that edge to his own program.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Chris Pollard
One name to watch is Duke's Chris Pollard. Pollard is in his 13th season leading the Blue Devils, and his tenure is the best Duke's seen since the late '50s. He's taken Duke to the postseason in six of the last eight full seasons with two ACC Tournament titles and three Super Regional appearances. He hasn't yet gotten to Omaha, but delivering consistent success at a program with almost no history in baseball stands out. If given MSU's resources, you could see something special.
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Skip Johnson
Could MSU AD Zac Selmon make another hire from his old school? It may be a good move. Skip Johnson's run at Oklahoma has largely been solid. In his six non-COVID years in Norman, the Sooners have made four regionals, and they're postseason-bound again this year. He's won both a conference tournament a regular season title. He hasn't had much regional success year-over-year, but the peak is fantastic with OU reaching the 2022 CWS finals. Johnson wouldn't be a flashy hire, but given his ties and Omaha experience, he's worth considering.
Auburn Tigers head coach Butch Thompson
This could be another obvious choice in the exact same vein as Mingione. Butch Thompson turned an outstanding run as MSU's pitching coach under John Cohen into taking over an Auburn program that had long been struggling in 2015. He's since turned the Tigers into a competitive SEC program, making five regionals, three super regionals, and two CWS. His current Tiger team may be his best. There's a chance he's more settled in on the Plains at this point, but as a MS-native and former assistant, State could be enticing.
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Wes Johnson
Yet another former MSU assistant that could get a look. Wes Johnson was the Diamond Dawg pitching coach for the 2016 SEC title team, led Arkansas' arms to the 2018 CWS runner-ups, and helped LSU win the 2023 national title. In his first year as HC of Georgia, his Bulldogs won 43 games and reached a super regional. This year, they're likely to be a regional host once again. UGA is a good job, but Johnson makes plenty of sense as a big swing.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Christian Ostrander
State could potentially look to their south for their next skipper. Southern Miss had a long run of success under HC Scott Berry, and they've kept that going under Berry's old assistant in Christian Ostrander. Ostrander is one of the top pitching coaches in the country. In his first season as HC, he led USM to 43 wins and a Sun Belt Tournament title, and he's got the Golden Eagles contending for the Sun Belt again this year. He lacks extensive HC experience and hasn't yet seen regional success, but he's a promising up-and-comer who knows Mississippi well.
East Carolina Pirates head coach Cliff Godwin
It wouldn't be an SEC baseball opening without mentioning Cliff Godwin. Godwin, who had stints as an assistant at Vanderbilt, LSU, and Ole Miss, has been one of the top mid-major head coaches for over a decade. His Pirates have won regular AAC titles and reached multiple super regionals during his tenure. The one knock is he's never made Omaha as a HC, but the guy knows how to win games. That said, ECU is his alma mater, and he's never shown much interest in leaving.
Troy Trojans head coach Skylar Meade
A true up-and-comer, Skylar Meade would be a great hire if State can't land one of their top targets. A great pitching coach for MTSU, Michigan State, and South Carolina, Meade took over Troy in 2022. His Trojans made the postseason in 2023, and this year, he's got a Top 25 team. He's a younger coach without a long track record of success, but Meade looks to be a future star.