Mississippi State head baseball coach Brian O’Connor is being recognized with an award given to individuals who exemplify civic service to communities through the Scouting program.
The Scouts, an organization best known for their Cub Scout program aims at instilling values in young people that will shape them into leaders and successful individuals, will recognize O’Connor with the John Robert Arnold Champion for Scouting Award during a luncheon on Nov. 25 at Mississippi State. The John Robert Arnold Champion for Scouting Award recognizes leaders who guide Mississippi youth through communities that offer the Scouting program.
“Coach Brian O’Connor is an outstanding individual who has invested his life in leadership development for young people at the very highest level. Mississippi and MSU benefit daily from his commitment to building a baseball program that reflects discipline, service, and character, and we are grateful to him for taking time to lead this fundraising effort for the Scouting program in northeast Mississippi,” Natchez Trace Council president Sid Salter of Starkville said. “We are particularly proud that this event is being held here in the Golden Triangle to benefit local Scouts and Cubs.”
Widely considered one of the most successful active head coaches in college baseball, O’Connor led the University of Virginia to 18 NCAA tournament appearances during his 22 years with the program. With a 917-388-2 overall record, O’Connor made the Cavaliers baseball program into a perennial powerhouse.
Within those 18 NCAA appearances, O’Connor took Virginia to nine super regionals, seven College World Series, and led them to win the National Championship in 2015 for the first time in the Cavaliers’ history. Additionally, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coach of the Year five times and the National Coach of the Year three times.
This experience and success in Charlottesville made him a very appealing hire for Mississippi State, when he was named the 19th head baseball coach in June 2025. O’Connor’s first year as a Bulldog was nothing short of successful, as far as first years go.
He helped Mississippi State finish with a 43-19 record and a No. 14 national seed heading into the post season. That feat allowed the Bulldogs to host their first regional at Dudy Noble Field for the first time since 2021. O’Connor’s guys cleared their regional and went on to face off against the lethal Georgia Bulldogs in the Athens Super Regional, where they fell in two games.
The “Thankful for Scouting” luncheon and reception will raise money for the Natchez Trace Council of Scouting program and northeast Mississippi, and will give Scouts sponsors an opportunity to meet, snap a photo, and chat with O’Connor before the festivities take place. The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. at The Mill in Starkville.
Individual tickets start at $250 per couple for two tickets. For tickets or information, contact Natchez Trace Council President Sid Salter at (662) 325-3442 or (601) 507-8004, or at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.