O'Connor Picks Parker As Pitching Coach
June 05, 2025 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – 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." Â
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.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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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." Â
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.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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