After three days of talks last week with Auburn about their vacant head coaching position, Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor withdrew his name from consideration from the job on Friday.
In his first year at the helm, O'Connor masterfully led the Cavaliers to a 44-15 season, a second-place finish in the ACC and a school record 18 conference victories, including five three-game sweeps. Virginia broke all of its fan attendance records and hosted its first ever NCAA regional. O'Connor was named 2004 ACC Coach of the Year and has landed an impressive recruiting class for next season.
All of this led Auburn to begin discussions with O'Connor about their open spot Wednesday, June 23, after school officials contacted Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage for permission to speak with O'Connor. Over the next three days, O'Connor had multiple talks with Auburn's athletic director during which time the two men discussed the position, but the job was never offered to O'Connor.
"On Friday I decided that I knew everything that I needed to know about the position and knowing that and knowing Virginia's commitment to excellence, I decided it would be best to no longer consider the position," O'Connor said.
The Auburn job became available on June 8 when the school fired head coach Steve Renfroe after four seasons. Renfroe had an overall record of 145-92 (60-60 SEC) and posted a 32-24 mark this past season, but had a disappointing 12-18 record in the conference.
The top position at Auburn is one of the most attractive in college baseball. Auburn plays in the baseball-rich SEC, and Renfroe's total financial package in 2004 was $275,000 annually, according to a report in the Huntsville (Ala.) Times. Auburn also possesses one of the top stadiums in college baseball. Before the 2003 season, Auburn's Plainsman Park was voted best collegiate baseball stadium in the country by Baseball America.
"The Auburn head coaching position, in the world of college baseball, is the top of the mountain." O'Connor said. "It's one of the most highly thought of top 10 positions in all of college baseball. It's something that when they call you, for your future and for you family, you have to at least consider."
Littlepage granted permission for O'Connor to speak with Auburn, but was extremely pleased with O'Connor's decision to remain in Charlottesville.
"Brian O'Connor came to the University of Virginia for the right reasons and he has decided to remain as our head coach for the right reasons," Littlepage said in a released statement. "His decision demonstrates his commitment to his players, the University and the baseball program."
When O'Connor came on as head coach at Virginia, he said he wanted to build a program. He has done a lot in just one year: Virginia set school records for the best winning percentage (.746) and best fielding percentage in a single season (.973) and recorded 25 home wins and 19 road wins -- both single season records. Yet, this head coach is by no means satisfied.
"What drives me is building something and being a part of a building process," O'Connor said. "We haven't reached our ceiling yet in this program and we have a lot of work still to do."
For those fans that have concerns that O'Connor will continue to show interest in head coaching jobs around the country as the success of the Virginia baseball team grows, they'll be relieved to know O'Connor's first priority remains with his boys in Charlottesville.
"I think how this process was handled-- the fans, the players, and the recruits should see that I'm committed to the University of Virginia and building this program to the best that it can be."
Read More
Taking a dive through Brian O’Connor’s 900 wins
By Ryan Weiner | 49 minutes agoFrom win No. 100 to win No. 900, here is a look at Coach Brian O'Connor's legacy.
Live tracker: the women’s basketball offseason
By Cecilia Mould , Xander Tilock and Lauren Halak | 11 hours agoThis tracker documents Virginia's offseason moves.
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 19 hours agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
