Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson addresses Mississippi State job opening.
Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson put any questions to rest about him leaving for the head coaching vacancy at Mississippi State.
Johnson was clear and concise in his comments on the opening at Mississippi State, a job he has been linked to by several national media outlets.
“I love Georgia,” Johnson said. “I have no plans to venture to Starkville, let’s just say that.”
Mississippi State fired former head coach Chris Lemonis on April 28 after a rollercoaster six-year stretch. Lemonis won the program’s first College World Series title in 2021 before back-to-back 9-21 records in SEC play.Mississippi State went 17-13 in the SEC last year before another ugly start in 2025. Lemonis was fired after the team fell to 7-14 in SEC play, well below the standards in Starkville.
Johnson hasn’t done anything to validate the possibility of a move to Mississippi State, but the speculation was fair considering his past.
Johnson was Mississippi State’s pitching coach in 2016 and helped the maroon Bulldogs go worst-to-first, literally. Mississippi State finished 2015 at the bottom of the SEC standings (8-22) and finished 2016 in first place (21-9).
Mississippi State also saw six pitchers selected in the 2016 MLB Draft following the turnaround season. The team ERA dropped from 4.51 to 3.35 in Johnson’s only season in Starkville.
Johnson signed an extension through 2030 last July after leading Georgia to the NCAA Tournament super regionals. The Bulldogs earned the No. 7 national seed and were one win away from their first College World Series appearance since 2008.
