Virginia

What Ryan Zimmerman, others say Mississippi State can expect from Brian O’Connor

Published

1 month ago

February 9, 2026

What Ryan Zimmerman, others say Mississippi State can expect from Brian O’Connor

STARKVILLE – Brian O’Connor was 32 when he was hired as Virginia’s baseball coach in 2003.

He had never been a head coach and was taking over a Virginia program that had only made three NCAA Tournaments. It was also before social media and college baseball boomed into what it is today.

“There wasn’t much in the way of knowing people back then,” said Ryan Zimmerman, who played at Virgina from 2003-05 before a 17-year career with the Washington Nationals. “Obviously, he was well regarded and came in as a good baseball guy, but we really didn’t know what to expect or what it was going to be like.”

It turned into a program-changing hire for the Cavaliers, who quickly became one of the top teams in the ACC. That success was sustained for 22 years as O’Connor led the Cavaliers to 18 NCAA Tournaments, seven College World Series and one national championship.

But that run at Virginia ended when Mississippi State pried O’Connor away to be the Bulldogs’ new coach in 2026. They doubled O’Connor’s salary, and there are immediately high expectations with MSU ranked No. 6 in the preseason.

Some fans are calling 2026 the most highly anticipated season in program history before opening day against Hofstra on Feb. 13 (4 p.m., SEC Network+).

The Clarion Ledger spoke with several of O’Connor’s Virginia players to learn what makes him such a great coach, how they think he’ll do at Mississippi State and how they reacted to him leaving Virginia.

“I think he’ll do great,” said Tyler Cannon, a Virginia baseball Hall of Fame shortstop from 2007-10. “I really do. He’s an unbelievable coach, but he’s an even better leader. The guy never sleeps.”

Why Virginia players think Brian O’Connor will succeed at Mississippi State

Virginia had a 29-25 record, but placed sixth in the ACC in 2003. O’Connor quickly brought Virginia back to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 with a 44-15 record and second-place finish in the ACC.

That began a run of 14 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

“I think the thing with him that really separates him from other coaches is his ability to adapt and adjust,” said Stephen Schoch, a Virginia pitcher from 2020-21. “He’s not married to a system.”

Virginia won its national championship in 2015, but the team wasn’t a powerhouse from opening day to the championship. In fact, the team nearly missed the ACC Tournament but won five of its last six conference games to be a No. 7 seed in the 10-team field.

The Cavaliers were a No. 3 seed but swept the regional and then Maryland in the super regional. Virginia only lost one game throughout the entire NCAA Tournament.

“It was always the poise he showed,” said Alec Bettinger, a Virginia pitcher from 2014-17. “It’s a word he used a lot with us, especially the pitchers having poise in big situations. Not getting too high, not getting too low. I always remember in big situations, bad calls, great plays, whatever it might be, you would look at the end of the dugout and his expression didn’t change much until the job as over.”

O’Connor has had extreme continuity on his coaching staff, and brought many of his assistant coaches with him to Mississippi State.

Kevin McMullan, MSU’s new associate head coach, was at Virginia since 2003. Matt Kirby, another new MSU assistant coach, was at Virginia for 14 seasons, 12 as a volunteer assistant.

The only other members of O’Connor’s Mississippi State staff who didn’t previously work for him are pitching coach Justin Parker and data/video analytics coordinator Jonathan French.

“I think the thing that just stands out the most is the consistency and the way they treat each person whether you are supposed to be the best player on the team or whether you’re a guy that walked on,” Zimmerman said. “They do really get the best out of each and every person.”

Virginia players react to Brian O’Connor leaving for Mississippi State

O’Connor was hired on June 1, approximately one hour after the Bulldogs were eliminated by Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional final. Rumors and reports began surfacing well before then that O’Connor was likely becoming the next Mississippi State coach. Virginia’s season ended short of the NCAA Tournament on May 21.

“I had mixed feelings,” Cannon said. “Nothing against (O’Connor) whatsoever. I was just more sad about him not being in a Virginia uniform anymore is the best way to put it. But the way I look at it, I’m obviously super happy for him.”

“I think a lot of people were obviously upset,” Zimmerman said. “Kind of like I told everybody, all good things come to an end at some point. And to do what they did for 20-plus years is remarkable.”

Some of the players said they’ll use it as an opportunity to catch a game at Dudy Noble Field.

“(O’Connor) is one of my favorite people in college baseball, so seeing him go to one of the programs I really like and really want to see have success, I couldn’t be happier about that,” Schoch said.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Virginia

Virginia vs. Arizona State – First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights

Published

10 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Virginia vs. Arizona State – First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights

Women’s Basketball

March 19, 2026

Virginia vs. Arizona State – First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights

March 19, 2026

Watch the highlights from No. 10 Virginia and No. 10 Arizona State’s matchup in the First Four of the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament.

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Virginia

States demand refunds on ‘illegal’ Trump tariffs as Maryland and Virginia join $166B push – WTOP News

Published

22 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

States demand refunds on ‘illegal’ Trump tariffs as Maryland and Virginia join 6B push – WTOP News

Maryland and Virginia are part of a growing, multistate push to force Congress to refund more than $166 billion in tariffs, after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump policy illegal.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on push for tariff refunds

Maryland and Virginia are part of a growing, multistate push to force Congress to refund more than $166 billion in tariffs, after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump policy illegal.

Attorneys general in more than a dozen states, including Maryland and Virginia, are arguing the money to pay for President Donald Trump’s tariffs came straight out of consumers’ pockets.

In a letter to lawmakers, Democratic attorneys general say more than $166 billion was collected from over 330,000 businesses and individuals, and they want that money returned automatically, with interest, without requiring claims or court action.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said the tariffs ultimately hit consumers hardest.

“We want the money that was borne by consumers … back in their pockets,” Jones told WTOP. He pointed to estimates showing the average Virginian paid about $1,700 more last year because of tariffs.

“That’s groceries, rent, diapers — real money for real people,” he said.

Jones said key sectors in Virginia, including agriculture, forestry and the Port of Virginia, were also hit, with container traffic declining as tariffs took hold.

The coalition is calling on Congress to create a uniform refund process and ensure businesses pass reimbursements along to consumers.

Jones said affordability concerns cut across party lines.

“People are having a hard time making ends meet,” he said. “That money belongs to them, and we’re using every tool we have to try to get it back.”

Back in February, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs, handing him a stinging loss that sparked a furious attack on the court he helped shape.

Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of some justices who ruled 6-3 against him, calling them “disloyal to our Constitution” and “lapdogs.” At one point he even raised the specter of foreign influence without citing any evidence.

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Virginia enters NCAA Tournament with eyes on return to March Madness success

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Virginia enters NCAA Tournament with eyes on return to March Madness success

PHILADELPHIA, PA (WTKR)- Virginia fans were on top of the world in April of 2019. Their Cavaliers were on top of college basketball, hoisting their first national championship at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Wahoos’ NCAA Tournament showing since then has been anything but stellar. Since that 2019 triumph, UVA is 0-3 in the Big Dance with first round losses to Ohio (2021), Furman (2023) and a First Four drubbing at the hands of Colorado State (2024).

Ryan Odom has Cavalier Nation thinking Virginia is on the brink of reversing course. Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, the Cavs enter the 2026 tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, 29-5 after a tight ACC championship game loss to Duke and take on Wright State Friday afternoon in hopes of tipping off a deep run into the bracket.

UVA is averaging 80.6 points per game, the highest point output the program has seen in more than two decades and different that the methodical defense-first style played by the Cavaliers under Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers average more than 28 three-point attempts per game and make around 10.

The orange and blue can crash the glass, entering the NCAA Tournament No. 18 nationally with 40.21 rebounds per game.

Odom’s squad is still performing at the defensive end, holding opponents to 68.4 points per outing. The Cavaliers lead the country in blocks with 6.5 per game, paced by Ugonna Onyenso, who tallies nearly three swats per contest by himself. He had nine blocks this past Saturday alone, setting an ACC title game record, part of 21 total blocks during the tournament, which also signified a new high-water mark. The Cavs also hold teams to 39.53 percent from the floor, good enough for 13th in the country.

Thijs De Ridder paces Virginia with 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, pacing three Cavaliers averaging in double figures. Malik Thomas chips in 12.4 points per game, while Sam Lewis adds 10.8 points per contest. Chance Mallory, Jacari White and Onyenso give Odom plenty of depth off the bench.

The head coach himself has taken four teams to the Big Dance and is 1-3 in the event. Odom put his stamp on March Madness, when his UMBC Retrievers became the first No. 16 seed to top a No. 1 seed in 2018, topping the Virginia program he currently leads. The lead Wahoo has also guided Utah State and VCU to the field of 68.

UVA will take on a Wright State squad that enters 23-11 on the year and has won five in a row and 18 of its last 22. The Raiders claimed the Horizon League crown to punch their ticket to the tournament.

With a win Friday afternoon, Virginia would advance to Sunday’s second round against either Tennessee or Miami (OH).

WTKR News 3 sports director Marc Davis is in Philadelphia following the Cavaliers and will have coverage both on-air and online throughout the tournament.

Click here to see how we use AI at WTKR News 3.

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