Mississippi State University announced Monday it relieved Chris Lemonis of his duties as head baseball coach, effective immediately. Director of Athletics Zac Selmon made the announcement.
Lemonis was in his seventh season leading the Bulldogs. The university has started a national search to find the program's next head coach. Assistant coach Justin Parker will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the current season.
Selmon stated the change in leadership is in the best interest of the program's future. He noted the team has not consistently met expected standards. Selmon thanked Coach Lemonis for his time and work, including the 2021 national championship.
Lemonis took over the program on June 25, 2018. His record at Mississippi State stands at 232-135. He guided the team to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2019, 2021, and 2024, reaching the College World Series twice in 2019 and 2021, culminating in the national title.
Mississippi State announced the decision following a recent period of struggles for the team. A report indicated the move followed consecutive SEC series losses.
Prior to his time in Starkville, Chris Lemonis was head coach at Indiana University from 2015-18, where he compiled a 141-91-2 record and made three NCAA Regional appearances. His career head coaching record is 373-226-2.
Selmon expressed confidence in the current team's abilities for the rest of the season and highlighted the program's history and resources.
"Mississippi State is the premier job in college baseball," Selmon said. "The tradition, the facilities, the NIL offerings and the fan base are all second to none. Dudy Noble Field is the best environment in the sport, period."
"This program is built for success. Our history proves it, and our future demands it. We are one of only four programs in NCAA history to reach the College World Series in six consecutive decades. With 40 NCAA Tournament appearances, 12 trips to Omaha, 11 SEC regular season titles, and a national championship, our program has always been a national contender. That is the bar. We're going to find a leader who will embrace that, elevate our program and compete for championships."
