Coaching Staff

Kevin McMullan | Associate Head Baseball Coach

New Mississippi State head baseball coach Brian O'Connor has turned to a trusted and familiar voice as he builds his staff in Starkville.

O'Connor announced the hiring of longtime Virginia assistant Kevin McMullan as the Bulldogs' associate head coach. Widely regarded as one of the premier assistant coaches and recruiters in college baseball, McMullan spent the past 22 seasons at Virginia, including the last 19 as associate head coach under O'Connor.

"Mac has set the standard in player development for as long as I've known him," O'Connor said. "His record helping to make these young men better baseball players and better people is unmatched in college baseball. He is an elite recruiter, develops winners and brings a tireless work ethic to our program. I am very happy that Mac is coming to Mississippi State, and I am excited that it sends a powerful message about the vision we have for this program."

A two-time National Assistant Coach of the Year (2009, 2024), McMullan helped guide Virginia to seven College World Series appearances and a national championship in 2015. The Cavaliers averaged 42 wins per season during his tenure, reaching the NCAA Tournament 18 times. 

He also oversaw one of the most productive offenses in the country over the last two decades, with Virginia leading the ACC in batting average over the past 15 years and hitting above .300 as a team in multiple seasons. In 2024, UVA ranked in the top five nationally in hits, runs, batting average, doubles, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, while belting a school-record 116 home runs.

Defensively, McMullan's impact was equally strong. Virginia owns the highest fielding percentage in the ACC since his arrival (.973), with 10 of his teams finishing among the nation's top 40 in that category. The Cavaliers eclipsed the .970 mark in fielding 16 times in his 22 years.

McMullan was voted by his peers as the nation's top assistant coach in a Baseball America poll of Division I head coaches in 2012, 2017 and 2020.

Over the course of his 27-year college coaching career, more than 100 players under McMullan have signed professional contracts, including 52 Virginia position players drafted and 17 who reached the major leagues. That list includes Ryan Zimmerman (Washington), Mark Reynolds (Milwaukee), Joe Koshansky (Colorado), Brandon Guyer (Tampa Bay), Sean Doolittle (Oakland), David Adams (New York Yankees), Chris Taylor (Seattle), Phil Gosselin (Atlanta), Jarrett Parker (San Francisco), John Hicks (Seattle), Derek Fisher (Houston), Adam Haseley (Philadelphia), Matt Thaiss (Los Angeles Angels), Joe McCarthy (San Francisco), Pavin Smith (Arizona), Ernie Clement (Cleveland), Jake McCarthy (Arizona) and Zack Gelof (Oakland).

Prior to Virginia, McMullan held coaching roles at East Carolina, St. John's and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also managed in the Atlanta Braves organization and played professionally in the Yankees system. A two-sport All-American at IUP, McMullan was an NCAA standout in both baseball and football.

"Mississippi State is a place with championship tradition, passionate fans and the resources to be elite in everything we do," McMullan  said. "Our players, coaches and staff will work every day in a way that respects and honors that tradition and earns the opportunity to compete in front of the best fanbase in college baseball. Hail State!"

McMullan is a 1990 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Sandra, have three children: Maggie, Emma and Jack. Their son Jack is currently baseball player at Liberty University. McMullan's father, John, was an All-American football player at Notre Dame and played in the NFL with the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Titans (now the Jets).

Matt Kirby | Assistant Baseball Coach

Mississippi State head baseball coach Brian O'Connor has added another key piece to his inaugural coaching staff in Starkville, announcing the hiring of longtime Virginia assistant Matt Kirby as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs.

Kirby spent the past 14 seasons at Virginia, including 12 years as a volunteer assistant before being promoted to full-time assistant and recruiting coordinator in 2023. Known for his work with position players – particularly catchers and outfielders – Kirby played a key role in developing talent for one of the most consistent programs in college baseball. He also served as the Cavaliers' first base coach. 

"Matt has been a steady and trusted presence throughout my time as a head coach," O'Connor said. "He's an elite teacher, recruiter, communicator and innovative thinker who has helped build championship teams. He will pour everything he has into Mississippi State, and I'm glad that he is joining our efforts in Starkville."

In his first season as a full-time assistant, Kirby helped Virginia reach its seventh College World Series appearance since 2009 and guided the Cavaliers through a late-season surge that saw them win 20 of their final 27 games. Over his 14 years in Charlottesville, UVA reached the NCAA Tournament nine times, captured five regional championships, and won the 2015 national title.

Virginia was named the program of the decade (2010–19) by D1Baseball.com, with O'Connor earning Coach of the Decade honors. Kirby helped UVA rack up 467 wins during his tenure in Charlottesville, the eighth most of any college baseball program in that span.

A former catcher at William & Mary, Kirby has been instrumental in developing some of the top backstops in college baseball. Under his guidance, four catchers earned All-ACC recognition, including first-round MLB Draft picks Matt Thaiss (16th overall, 2016) and Kyle Teel (14th overall, 2023). Overall, UVA produced 30 All-ACC position players and nine All-Americans during his time on staff.

Prior to Virginia, Kirby held coaching roles at Georgetown, Villanova, Brown, William & Mary and VMI. He served as a recruiting coordinator at both Georgetown and Villanova, where his 2008 signing class was ranked among the nation's top 100 by Collegiate Baseball.

Kirby is a 2003 graduate of William & Mary, where he was a four-year letterman and two-time team captain. He led the Tribe to a CAA Tournament title in 2001 and was a Second-Team All-CAA selection in 2002 while catching for future major leaguers Chris Ray and Bill Bray.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Coach O'Connor's staff at Mississippi State," Kirby said. "The minute you step onto Dudy Noble Field, you immediately feel the rich tradition and can sense the passion and unrelenting excitement of the fanbase. I'm excited to help build something special in StarkVegas."

Kirby and his wife, Mallory, have one daughter, Renate.

Justin Parker | Assistant Baseball Coach

Mississippi State head baseball coach Brian O'Connor has announced that Justin Parker will continue with the Diamond Dawgs as the program's pitching coach, solidifying a key role on the Bulldogs' staff.

Parker, who joined Mississippi State in 2024, has spent the past two seasons leading the Bulldogs' pitching staff and served as interim head coach for the final six weeks of the 2025 season.

"Justin is one of the most respected pitching minds in college baseball and he cares deeply about Mississippi State Baseball," O'Connor said. "He has an ability to recruit, communicate with the players and develop elite pitchers. I know Justin will put everything he has into our pitchers, both as young men and baseball players.  I am excited for us to get to work."  

In 2025, Parker's second season in Starkville, Mississippi State continued to rank among the nation's best on the mound. The Bulldogs finished No. 4 nationally and in the SEC in strikeouts per nine innings (11.8), No. 8 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.05), and No. 14 nationally and No. 6 in the SEC in WHIP (1.29). Parker's staff also compiled a 4.44 ERA, maintaining elite-level production against SEC competition.

That followed a remarkable debut season in 2024 in which Parker helped engineer one of the country's top pitching turnarounds. The Bulldogs improved their team ERA by nearly three runs (2.84), reduced walks by 104, and added 101 strikeouts from the prior year. Mississippi State posted a 4.17 ERA — the 13th-best mark in the nation and fourth-best in the SEC — while totaling 639 strikeouts, the ninth most in the country.

Under Parker's guidance, Jurrangelo Cijntje and Khal Stephen became the first MSU starting duo since 2019 to each post 80+ innings, eight or more wins, and 100+ strikeouts in a single season. The Bulldogs went on to have a school-record eight pitchers selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, including the entire weekend rotation — all taken within the first three rounds.

Prior to arriving in Starkville, Parker spent two seasons as the pitching coach at South Carolina, where he helped the Gamecocks rank among the nation's best in ERA, strikeouts, and opponent batting average. In 2023, South Carolina posted the 12th-best ERA in the country (4.19) and totaled 608 strikeouts. His impact extended to Indiana, UCF, and Wright State, where his staffs consistently ranked among the top in the country in key pitching metrics.

Across his career, 28 pitchers under Parker's guidance have been selected in the MLB Draft, including 14 in the first 10 rounds. He is widely regarded as one of the premier developers of pitching talent in college baseball.

"The Mississippi State fanbase and community has welcomed me and my family to Starkville the last two years," Parker said.  "I've always admired Coach O'Connor, his staff and their program, and I am excited to join them in creating something special at Mississippi State. I am looking forward to continue building on the unmatched tradition and support that this community offers. Hail State!"

Parker was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played three seasons professionally. He earned first-team All-Horizon League honors at Wright State in 2007 and 2008 and was a 2008 Academic All-District selection. He earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Wright State in 2012.

Parker and his wife, Angela, have one son, Cameron. He is the brother of former MLB pitcher Jarrod Parker.

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