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Cowboy Baseball Game At ORU Canceled

STILLWATER – Due to inclement weather, tonight’s game between Oklahoma State and Oral Roberts at Chapman Stadium in Tulsa has been canceled. It will not be made up. The Cowboys are 19-21 and return to Big 12 Conference action Friday at 6 p.m. when they open a weekend series at home against UCF. OSU is […]

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April 30, 2025

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STILLWATER – Due to inclement weather, tonight’s game between Oklahoma State and Oral Roberts at Chapman Stadium in Tulsa has been canceled. It will not be made up.

The Cowboys are 19-21 and return to Big 12 Conference action Friday at 6 p.m. when they open a weekend series at home against UCF. OSU is 10^th in the league standings with a 7-11 record.

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Contract details for former Mississippi State baseball coach

Mississippi State baseball coach Chris Lemonis talks loss to Florida Watch Mississippi State baseball coach after the April 18 13-3 loss to Florida at Dudy Noble Field. With only about a month until the start of the NCAA tournament, the college baseball world received some surprising news Monday. Mississippi State coach Chris Lemonis, who led […]

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April 30, 2025

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With only about a month until the start of the NCAA tournament, the college baseball world received some surprising news Monday.

Mississippi State coach Chris Lemonis, who led the Bulldogs to their first and only national championship in 2021, has been fired, the university announced.

Assistant coach Justin Parker will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Over his seven seasons at Mississippi State, Lemonis went 232-135, though the program’s fortunes started to wane after winning the College World Series in 2021. The Bulldogs went 114-37 in Lemonis’ first three seasons, but have gone 118-98 since and have made it back to the NCAA tournament only once. This season, they’re 25-19 overall and 7-14 in SEC play, putting them in 14th place in the 16-team league.

Despite those recent struggles, they are coming off a 40-win season in 2024 that included a trip to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament.

In a statement, Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon said the program has “not consistently met the standard of success that our university, fans and student-athletes expect and deserve.”

“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 in a statement. “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. Mississippi State is the premier job in college baseball. 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. This program is built for success. Our history proves it, and our future demands it.”

A national search for Lemonis’ successor is underway, the university said. Lemonis was hired at Mississippi State in 2018 after a successful four-year run at Indiana in which he led the Hoosiers to the NCAA tournament three times.

Chris Lemonis contract details, buyout

Lemonis had an arrangement in which he was working under two contracts — one with the university and one with Bulldog Club, Inc., the latter of which is a non-profit organization that serves as the Mississippi State athletic department’s fundraising arm.

For the 2025 season, Lemonis was set to make $1.325 million total, with $840,000 coming from the state contract with the university and $485,000 from the Bulldog Club.

Both of Lemonis’ contracts were set to expire on June 30, 2026.

According to the terms of his deals, Lemonis is owed 75% of his remaining salary. If May 1 is used as his firing date, that buyout would come out to just shy of $1.2 million.

Lemonis’ contract includes a duty to mitigate clause, meaning the university and Bulldog Club can offset buyout money he’s set to receive based on income he receives from a new job.

Chris Lemonis record

Only one of Lemonis’ seven teams at Mississippi State finished with a losing record, though the Bulldogs had fallen off a bit after their College World Series title in 2021.

Here’s a year-by-year look at his record with Mississippi State:

2019: 52-15
2020: 12-4 (season canceled because of COVID-19)
2021: 50-18
2022: 26-30
2023: 27-26
2024: 40-23
2025: 25-19

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Mountaineers Set to Play Marshall in Charleston

Story Links MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team closes out its season series with Marshall on Wednesday, April 30, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Mountaineer fans can watch the games on ESPN+, listen on Mountaineer Sports Network, […]

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April 30, 2025

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University baseball team closes out its season series with Marshall on Wednesday, April 30, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

Mountaineer fans can watch the games on ESPN+, listen on Mountaineer Sports Network, and can follow along with live stats at WVUsports.com.

West Virginia is 37-5 this season and sit in first place in the Big 12 at 16-3 after recording four straight sweeps against Utah, Houston, Cincinnati, and most recently UCF. The Mountaineers have the highest winning percentage in the country at .881 along with No. 1 Texas.

In the latest polls, West Virginia sits at No. 4 in Perfect Game, No. 10 in NCBWA, No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 8 in Baseball America, No. 18 in The Athletic, and No. 16 by D1Baseball, which is recognized by the NCAA.

Junior Skylar King leads the Mountaineers with a .361 batting average while senior Jace Rinehart has a team-high 43 RBI. Rinehart and junior Logan Sauve each lead the team with seven home runs.

The Mountaineer bullpen has been led by senior Reese Bassinger and sophomore Chase Meyer, who were both named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List. Junior Carson Estridge has also been solid since moving back to the bullpen and has five saves to match Bassinger for the team lead.

Pitching Probables
RHP Gavin Van Kempen (2-0, 5.25 ERA, 33 K, 22 BB, 36.0 IP) vs. RHP Peyton Jackson (2-2, 1.47 ERA, 35 K, 8 BB, 30.2 IP)

Led by third year head coach Greg Beals, Marshall is 23-22 after sweeping South Alabama over the weekend.

Eddie Leon leads the team with a .278 batting average while Ethan Murdoch has a team-high nine home runs. Charlie Krebs has been the Herd’s top reliever with a 2.62 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched.

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Mississippi State – Official Athletics Website

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon announced Monday that Chris Lemonis has been relieved of his duties as head baseball coach effective immediately. Lemonis was in his seventh season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. A national search to identify the program’s next head coach is underway. Assistant coach Justin Parker will […]

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April 30, 2025

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STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon announced Monday that Chris Lemonis has been relieved of his duties as head baseball coach effective immediately.

Lemonis was in his seventh season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. A national search to identify the program’s next head coach is underway.

Assistant coach Justin Parker will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

“A change in leadership is what’s best for the future of Mississippi State Baseball,” Selmon said. “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.

“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.

“Mississippi State is the premier job in college baseball. 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.

“This program is built for success. Our history proves it, and our future demands it. We are one of only four programs in NCAA history to reach the College World Series in six consecutive decades. With 40 NCAA Tournament appearances, 12 trips to Omaha, 11 SEC regular season titles, and a national championship, our program has always been a national contender. That is the bar. We’re going to find a leader who will embrace that, elevate our program and compete for championships.”

Lemonis became State’s 18^th head baseball coach on June 25, 2018, and was 232-135 in his six-plus seasons. He owns a 373-226-2 career record as a head coach. Prior to MSU, he went 141-91-2 as head coach at Indiana. Under Lemonis, MSU made three NCAA Tournaments (2019, 2021, 2024), two College World Series (2019, 2021) and won the 2021 national title.

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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 […]

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April 30, 2025

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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.

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Bon Voyage

KC Smurthwaite is a consultant for Athletics Admin, specializing in revenue generation, licensing, marketing, and higher education. He has almost two decades of experience in collegiate athletics and the sports and entertainment industry. Smurthwaite is a fractional employee of several athletic departments across the country. He also teaches sports management and journalism as an adjunct […]

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2 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

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KC Smurthwaite is a consultant for Athletics Admin, specializing in revenue generation, licensing, marketing, and higher education. He has almost two decades of experience in collegiate athletics and the sports and entertainment industry. Smurthwaite is a fractional employee of several athletic departments across the country. He also teaches sports management and journalism as an adjunct professor. Follow him on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn. Smurthwaite can also be reached at [email protected].

Somewhere off the coast of Cabo San Lucas earlier this month, the largest gathering of Brigham Young University Cougar fans outside of Provo wasn’t in a stadium or an arena — it was aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. Over 3,000 BYU fans, alumni, legends, and employees came together for “Cruisin’ with the Cougs,” the inaugural “ultimate BYU fan experience” — and perhaps the start of a new model for college athletic departments nationwide.

In a college athletics landscape often dominated by discussions of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and broadcast rights, BYU just pulled off one of the most fan-first moves in recent memory: a full-scale cruise takeover.

And the idea? It was years in the making.

The concept was born from Troy Dunn, Jason Burgess, and Jennifer Dunn, co-founders of The Charter King, and inspired by their longtime friend, the late Ryan Williams. Their shared vision was bold but straightforward: create the ultimate experience for BYU fans near and far, but especially those who live far from Utah — fans who don’t often experience a game day in Provo, a tailgate, or even a religious team fireside.

“A lot of fans don’t get to experience game days in Provo,” Dunn said. “We wanted to create something that would surpass all previous BYU fan experiences.”

Dunn and Burgess approached BYU’s leadership — notably Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and Associate Athletic Director Chad Lewis — and quickly found support. A committee was formed, and “Cruisin’ with the Cougs” officially set sail April 11–18, 2025, departing from Los Angeles with stops in Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta.

Sadly, Williams, who had the original vision for such a fan experience, passed away from a heart attack at just 46 years old. For Dunn & Burgess, seeing the project through to completion became a deeply personal mission.

“We wanted to see it through for Ryan,” Dunn said.

The cruise was packed with experiences: meet-and-greets, breaking down film with coaches, sports camps, Q&A sessions, and even a Sunday service led by former BYU football player turned Transformation Church pastor Dr. Derwin “Dewey” Gray. Over 30 BYU legends participated, from current head coaches to Cougar icons like Kalani Sitake, Jimmer Fredette, and even the legendary Jim McMahon. Cosmo the Cougar was also on hand, hosting dance camps for kids, and photo ops for fans of all ages.

Dr. Jeff Fuller, a BYU fan and ophthalmologist who attended the cruise, called the experience “surreal.”

“The highlight of the trip was running on a treadmill with a legend. I looked over, and Jimmer came in and got on the one next to me,” Fuller said. “The legends were all great. It was fun to see them interact with their families and other fans.”

Despite BYU’s traditional ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — and its well-known honor code regarding alcohol — the cruise operated fully, including the ship’s casino and bar areas. However, according to sources, it was the ice cream and soda stations that were the busiest spots aboard.

“BYU fans come in all shapes and sizes,” Dunn said. “This cruise displayed that perfectly. Everybody was welcome.”

Organizing a full-ship charter is no small feat. While officials declined to disclose exact costs, research indicates it likely ran north of $600,000 per night — not including insurance, staffing, and international logistics. Sponsorships, including a Mountain America Credit Union title sponsor deal, helped offset some expenses.

“It was extremely hard and time-consuming, very expensive, and a scary venture to lean into,” Dunn said. “There are thousands upon thousands of micro-details. This wasn’t something we put together overnight.”

Still, the financial blueprint is there — and according to Dunn, several other college athletic departments have already reached out to explore the model for themselves.

“I’ll let them announce their own plans,” he said with a smile that beamed through the phone.

Tickets for the 2025 cruise, which had a base price of around $1,000, sold out — though organizers intentionally limited capacity to maintain an intimate experience. A second “Cruisin’ with the Cougs” is already slated for 2027, with even higher fan excitement expected. The current pre-registration waiting list already exceeds 12,000.

So, could your athletic department set sail?

No, not every program can charter a cruise liner. But the model offers an intriguing alternative to traditional fan engagement strategies for athletic departments with large, passionate fan bases — particularly those with alumni spread across the country.

Instead of another neutral-site football game or a coaches caravan, why not create a week-long, immersive experience where fans can share ice cream (or a beer) with school legends, attend youth camps, and some may even worship together?

In an era where collegiate athletics often feels increasingly transactional, the cruise felt refreshingly different to learn about.

And while millions are being thrown at NIL collectives and luxury facilities, “Cruisin’ with the Cougs” showed that sometimes, all fans really want is a chance to be part of the family — preferably somewhere off the coast of Cabo.

Maybe the next wave will come by way of cruises.

Raise your Coke, Cougar Nation. You just set a new standard.

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