Justin Parker has officially stepped into the role of interim head coach for Mississippi State baseball, marking a significant shift in the program’s leadership. His appointment follows the departure of Chris Lemonis, who was relieved of his duties on April 28 after seven seasons with the Bulldogs [A](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2025/04/29/justin-parker-mississippi-state-baseball-interim-coach-chris-lemonis/83335068007/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cuY2xhcmlvbmxlZGdlci5jb21cL3N0b3J5XC9zcG9ydHNcL2NvbGxlZ2VcL21pc3Npc3NpcHBpLXN0YXRlXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjlcL2p1c3Rpbi1wYXJrZXItbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGUtYmFzZWJhbGwtaW50ZXJpbS1jb2FjaC1jaHJpcy1sZW1vbmlzXC84MzMzNTA2ODAwN1wvIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX21lc3NhZ2VJZCI6InJ0Y2FXTlFkYjRSaTZIS3M5cW1HayIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jb252ZXJzYXRpb25JZCI6IndyVFdEdGZVNWhaS2JWUHRjVFZtWiJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). Parker, previously the team’s pitching coach, now finds himself at the helm, tasked with guiding Mississippi State through the remainder of the season and potentially beyond.
Parker’s coaching career has been defined by his expertise in pitching. Before joining Mississippi State, he served as the pitching coach at South Carolina, where he helped develop a formidable pitching staff [B](https://www.si.com/college/mississippistate/baseball/mississippi-state-baseball-hires-justin-parker-as-pitching-coach?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cuc2kuY29tXC9jb2xsZWdlXC9taXNzaXNzaXBwaXN0YXRlXC9iYXNlYmFsbFwvbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGUtYmFzZWJhbGwtaGlyZXMtanVzdGluLXBhcmtlci1hcy1waXRjaGluZy1jb2FjaCIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jbGlja1NvdXJjZSI6ImNpdGF0aW9uTGluayIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19tZXNzYWdlSWQiOiJydGNhV05RZGI0Umk2SEtzOXFtR2siLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJ3clRXRHRmVTVoWktiVlB0Y1RWbVoifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His ability to refine and elevate pitching talent was evident in his first season with the Bulldogs, as he significantly improved the team’s ERA and strikeout numbers [C](https://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/justin-parker/2831?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9oYWlsc3RhdGUuY29tXC9zcG9ydHNcL2Jhc2ViYWxsXC9yb3N0ZXJcL2NvYWNoZXNcL2p1c3Rpbi1wYXJrZXJcLzI4MzEiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicnRjYVdOUWRiNFJpNkhLczlxbUdrIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoid3JUV0R0ZlU1aFpLYlZQdGNUVm1aIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). However, stepping into the head coach position presents a new challenge—one that extends beyond pitching and into the broader responsibilities of managing a team.
Since taking over, Parker has already made an impact. Under his leadership, Mississippi State has shown signs of resurgence, winning consecutive SEC series and positioning itself for a potential NCAA tournament appearance [D](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mississippi-state-baseball-resurging-with-interim-justin-parker-more-takeaways-from-ole-miss-series/ar-AA1EyBlj?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicnRjYVdOUWRiNFJpNkhLczlxbUdrIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3Lm1zbi5jb21cL2VuLXVzXC9zcG9ydHNcL21sYlwvbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGUtYmFzZWJhbGwtcmVzdXJnaW5nLXdpdGgtaW50ZXJpbS1qdXN0aW4tcGFya2VyLW1vcmUtdGFrZWF3YXlzLWZyb20tb2xlLW1pc3Mtc2VyaWVzXC9hci1BQTFFeUJsaiIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jb252ZXJzYXRpb25JZCI6IndyVFdEdGZVNWhaS2JWUHRjVFZtWiIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jbGlja1NvdXJjZSI6ImNpdGF0aW9uTGluayJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). The team’s recent victories against Ole Miss and Kentucky highlight a renewed energy and focus, with players responding positively to Parker’s leadership [E](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2025/05/04/mississippi-state-baseball-kentucky-series-justin-parker/83256110007/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJ3clRXRHRmVTVoWktiVlB0Y1RWbVoiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicnRjYVdOUWRiNFJpNkhLczlxbUdrIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnVzYXRvZGF5LmNvbVwvc3RvcnlcL3Nwb3J0c1wvY29sbGVnZVwvbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGVcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC8wNFwvbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGUtYmFzZWJhbGwta2VudHVja3ktc2VyaWVzLWp1c3Rpbi1wYXJrZXJcLzgzMjU2MTEwMDA3XC8ifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His emphasis on complementary baseball—balancing strong pitching with effective hitting and defense—has been a key factor in the team’s improved performance [D](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mississippi-state-baseball-resurging-with-interim-justin-parker-more-takeaways-from-ole-miss-series/ar-AA1EyBlj?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicnRjYVdOUWRiNFJpNkhLczlxbUdrIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3Lm1zbi5jb21cL2VuLXVzXC9zcG9ydHNcL21sYlwvbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGUtYmFzZWJhbGwtcmVzdXJnaW5nLXdpdGgtaW50ZXJpbS1qdXN0aW4tcGFya2VyLW1vcmUtdGFrZWF3YXlzLWZyb20tb2xlLW1pc3Mtc2VyaWVzXC9hci1BQTFFeUJsaiIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jb252ZXJzYXRpb25JZCI6IndyVFdEdGZVNWhaS2JWUHRjVFZtWiJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
One of Parker’s standout moments as interim coach came during Mississippi State’s series against Ole Miss. In Game 2, pitcher Evan Siary delivered a career-best performance, striking out 15 batters in eight shutout innings [F](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/inside-evan-siary-s-career-pitching-performance-that-lifted-mississippi-state-baseball-by-ole-miss/ar-AA1EvV70?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicnRjYVdOUWRiNFJpNkhLczlxbUdrIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoid3JUV0R0ZlU1aFpLYlZQdGNUVm1aIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3Lm1zbi5jb21cL2VuLXVzXC9zcG9ydHNcL21sYlwvaW5zaWRlLWV2YW4tc2lhcnktcy1jYXJlZXItcGl0Y2hpbmctcGVyZm9ybWFuY2UtdGhhdC1saWZ0ZWQtbWlzc2lzc2lwcGktc3RhdGUtYmFzZWJhbGwtYnktb2xlLW1pc3NcL2FyLUFBMUV2VjcwIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). Parker’s decision to keep Siary in the game, despite mounting pressure, demonstrated his confidence in his players and his ability to make critical in-game decisions. This approach has reson
