We're nearing two weeks since Mississippi State baseball made the decision to move on from head coach Chris Lemonis. One of the premier jobs in college baseball, State is sure to attract plenty of impressive candidates. There have plenty of names thrown out as possibilities, as seen on our initial hot board...
Since that time, we've begun to get a slightly better picture of which direction AD Zac Selmon will be looking to find the next coach of the Diamond Dawgs. Therefore, it's time for an updated hot board.
I've eliminated some names, and there's a few new coaches here, including one that would be literally as good a hire as any program could make. As always, this isn't a definitive list. Someone else could emerge, or perhaps the original board still holds the answer. But right now, these are the names getting the most traction as targets for Mississippi State.
Virginia HC Brian O'Connor
I left O'Connor off the initial hot board because it just seemed unlikely that a coach of his caliber would be a realistic candidate. But there's been quite a bit of smoke that State has a chance here. In 22 seasons at Virginia, Brian O'Connor has won multiple ACC titles, made seven trips to Omaha, and won the 2015 national title. He's one of the top coaches in the sport. Those coaches don't typically move, but the rumor mill is hot that resources for baseball may be drying up in Charlottesville in the new age of college sports. There's no concern of that at MSU. I still won't call it likely, but the Bulldogs may legitimately be in the running to make an elite hire.
Georgia HC Wes Johnson
After O'Connor, Georgia's Wes Johnson seems to be the next best hire State could possibly make. An elite pitching coach with several successful stops around the SEC (including MSU) and the MLB, Johnson has done an incredible job in two years in Athens. The Bulldogs are poised to be a Top 8 national seed for consecutive seasons and are a prime candidate to make a run to Omaha. Johnson recently tried to quiet the rumors about leaving for MSU, and UGA may finally be putting real resources into baseball. But we can't count him out just yet.
Auburn HC Butch Thompson
One of the obvious names since the job opened has been Butch Thompson. A Mississippi native and MSU's pitching coach from 09-15, he's got plenty of ties to Starkville. And he's done a fantastic job at Auburn. He's led the Tigers to regular regionals and a pair of CWS appearances, and AU is set to earn a national seed this season. He's a great candidate, but the question is if State could pull him from the Plains. He's got a good thing going now, and with his current (and old) boss John Cohen running that athletic department, you can expect AU to take baseball seriously going forward.
Tennessee Asst. Josh Elander
State wants to go the route of hiring a sitting HC, but there are some assistants worth considering. Tennessee's Josh Elander is at the top of that list. The recruiting coordinator and associate HC for the Vols, Elander has played a pivotal role in turning Tennessee into an elite program. He's helped them become one of the sport's top hitting programs. Elander is ready to run his own program, and his resume is strong enough for that job to be in the SEC. Yes, there'd be more risk with hiring an assistant, but the potential reward could make it worth it for MSU.
Georgia Asst. Will Coggin
The other assistant getting plenty of buzz is Georgia Assistant HC Will Coggin. Coggin is a Mississippi State guy all the way. He's a Mississippi native, played at MSU, was a student assistant there, and worked as both a volunteer and assistant coach in Starkville. And he's also been an outstanding coach. He's considered a great recruiter and is the architect of UGA's high-flying offense. He was fantastic in those roles at Kentucky too. Even without the MSU ties, he'd have a case for the job. Make no mistake, State wants a proven HC. But Coggin is impressive, and no one would be more devoted to winning in Starkville.
Wake Forest HC Tom Walter
Tom Walter is a name that's popped up recently as a potential candidate. The 16th year Wake Forest coach saw a slow build in Winston-Salem with just two regional appearances in his first 12 seasons. But he's now got the Deacs on the verge of their fourth-straight regional appearance, and two seasons ago he led them to their first ACC regular season title and CWS appearance since 1955. At a program with the resources of MSU, he'd likely see sustained success.
Duke HC Chris Pollard
Chris Pollard will be a popular choice if MSU misses on their big name targets. He literally built Duke up from nothing, turning them into a regular postseason team with a pair of ACC Tournament titles and three super regional appearances. His Blue Devils haven't been a regional host or reached the CWS, but he's winning at a high clip at a program with limited resources for baseball. At a big-time program, he could be a star. And he did get his masters in Starkville.
Troy HC Skylar Meade
It seems highly unlikely that MSU hires a mid-major coach, but if they were to go that route, Skylar Meade is the most attractive candidate. In his fourth year at Troy, his Trojans are nationally ranked and will make a regional for the second time in three years. The up-and-comer previously had a great stint as South Carolina's pitching coach. With SEC experience and success in a strong Sun Belt, he seems likely to win at a bigger job when the opportunity comes.