This story was updated to add new information.
Mississippi State baseball coach Chris Lemonis was fired on April 28. He was in his seventh season with the Bulldogs.
Assistant coach Justin Parker was named the interim coach. MSU said a national search for Lemonis’ replacement is underway.
Lemonis led the program to its first national championship in 2021, but it has gone downhill since then. The Bulldogs are currently 25-19 (7-14 SEC) after losing a series at Auburn. They haven’t made it to an NCAA tournament Super Regional since the national championship. They haven’t hosted a regional since that season either.
“A change in leadership is what’s best for the future of Mississippi State Baseball,” MSU athletics 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.
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“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. 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’ two contracts with MSU were worth $1.325 million this season and set to expire in June 2026.
What went wrong for Chris Lemonis at Mississippi State baseball
Lemonis appeared to steer MSU back in the right direction after returning to the NCAA tournament last season and narrowly missing out on hosting a regional. Expectations were to host a regional in 2024, but those are gone.
There were signs of struggles early in the season. Mississippi State was beating up on its inferior opponents, but losing to the better ones. Then, it started 1-9 in SEC play, its worst 10-game start to conference play in program history. The Bulldogs appeared to turn things around in early April when they won consecutive series against South Carolina and Alabama but have stumbled again. MSU is 2-5 in its last seven games with series losses to Florida and Auburn.
The tricky part is the way Mississippi State has been losing games. It’s not always the same. The bullpen was a strength early in the season, but has crumbled in the last two weeks. Pico Kohn is a fantastic starting pitcher, but MSU doesn’t have a second shutdown starting pitcher.
Mississippi State ranks 13th in the SEC in fielding percentage and last in stolen base defense.
Chris Lemonis contract, buyout details
Lemonis’ contract was slated to expire on June 30, 2026. According to his two contracts obtained by the Clarion Ledger, Lemonis is owed 75% of his remaining salary, which was $1.325 million this season and $1.35 million next season. Lemonis does have a duty to mitigate clause.
MORE: Inside Mississippi State pitcher Stone Simmons’ 3-year recovery from injury, crazy warmup routine
Chris Lemonis record
Lemonis had a winning record in all but one season with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs missed the NCAA tournament in 2022 and 2023.
- 2019: 52-15
- 2020: 12-4 (season cancelled because of COVID-19)
- 2021: 50-18
- 2022: 26-30
- 2023: 27-26
- 2024: 40-23
- 2025: 25-19
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
