Kirby Added As Assistant Baseball Coach

STARKVILLE – 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.

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.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Kirby Added As Assistant Baseball Coach

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