Mississippi State Fires Baseball Head Coach Chris Lemonis

Image credit: Chris Lemonis (Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Mississippi State announced Monday afternoon that baseball head coach Chris Lemonis has been fired effective immediately, ending his tenure partway through his seventh season.

Lemonis, who guided the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2021, leaves Starkville with a 232-135 record. Mississippi State currently sits at 25-19 overall and 7-14 in SEC play, appearing on track to miss the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons—a slide that ultimately triggered the university’s decision to move on.

“A change in leadership is what’s best for the future of Mississippi State Baseball,” athletic director Zac Selmon said in a statement. “We have not consistently met the standard of success that our university, fans and student-athletes expect and deserve. I want to thank Coach Lemonis for his work and the time he gave to our program, including a national championship in 2021. We appreciate his efforts and wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”

Assistant coach Justin Parker will serve as the program’s interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. Selmon addressed Mississippi State’s players Monday afternoon following the announcement.

“In a team meeting moments ago, I expressed to our student-athletes the confidence we have in their abilities and the potential they have for the remainder of the season,” Selmon said. “I encouraged them to compete with pride, resilience, and intensity. With the hard work, preparation, and talent already within this group, we are committed to putting them in the best position to finish the season competing at the highest level.”

Lemonis’ tenure at Mississippi State began with great promise. He led the Bulldogs to back-to-back College World Series appearances in 2019 and 2021, culminating in the program’s first national championship. However, the years that followed saw a significant downturn, with Mississippi State struggling to maintain its place among the SEC’s elite. After a last-place SEC finish in 2022 and a missed postseason again in 2023, the Bulldogs’ continued inconsistency in 2025 proved too much to overcome.

Mississippi State said it will conduct a national search for its next head coach, emphasizing the program’s stature within the sport.

“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.”

The Bulldogs have three SEC series remaining as they attempt to salvage their postseason hopes under Parker’s leadership.