STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team’s search for a new pitching coach continues.
A source said Monday that MSU coach John Cohen and Jason Dietrich, an assistant coach at California State University at Fullerton, decided mutually to go in different directions. Dietrich flew to Starkville on Friday and met with Cohen all weekend before leaving Sunday. Although reports surfaced that an offer had been extended and Dietrich turned it down, the source said no offer was made.
Dietrich will return to California State Fullerton, where he has coached the last three seasons. Dietrich’s only experience outside of the West Coast came in 2004 and 2005 with the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League (Massachusetts).
Last week, then-MSU associate head coach/pitching coach Butch Thompson agreed to become the new baseball coach at Auburn. He replaces Sonny Galloway, who was fired in September for cause.
Other leading candidates to replace Thompson include Dallas Baptist’s Wes Johnson, Illinois’ Drew Dickinson, Virginia Tech’s Robert Woodard, and Ohio’s Rob Smith.
Johnson has been with the Patriots for three seasons. In that time, he has developed eight pitchers who have been selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft. Jake Johansen and Cy Sneed were taken in the top three rounds.
Dickinson has spent four seasons at his alma mater. He has lowered the team ERA every year. The Fighting Illini finished this past season with a 2.55 ERA. Illinois made the school’s first super regional appearance this past season. The Minnesota Twins selected Illinois pitcher Tyler Jay sixth overall in this year’s draft. Five Illini pitchers were taken in the draft.
Woodard has worked at Virginia Tech for two seasons. He also has been an assistant coach at North Carolina-Wilmington and his alma mater, North Carolina. In the past five years, 20 pitchers he has coached have been selected in the MLB draft.
Smith has been the head coach at Ohio the last three seasons. The Bobcats won 36 games and the Mid-American Conference Championship last season.
Cohen tweeted last week that the Bulldogs would hire an elite pitching coach and many of the nation’s best pitching minds would listen to what MSU has to offer.
n Women’s golf team shaves three stroke off first-round total: At San Antonio, Texas, the MSU women’s golf team knocked three strokes off Sunday’s 299 scorecard to end the second round in seventh place after posting a 296 in the second round of the Alamo Invitational.
Ji Eun Baik and Bianca Theron are tied for team best (20th) after Monday’ play. Baik fired 2-over-par for the second-consecutive day, leaving her with a two-day total of 148. Theron shaved two shots off her first round, ending Monday at 1-over-par.
Sunday’s leader Logan Chaney is one stroke back of Baik and Theron. She fired a 76 Monday and is 25th.
Jessica Peng fired a 75, while Izel Pieter shaved seven total strokes off her scorecard and shot a 74.
n Follett-Smith leads men’s golf team: At Vero Beach, Florida, the men’s golf team is ninth after shooting a 589 at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational.
Junior Ben Follett-Smith is in eighth after shooting a two-round 4-under-par 140. Senior Tim Walker is 43rd after shooting a 149. Senior Ben Wood shot a 150 and is tied for 50th entering today’s final round. Taylor Grant also is tied at 150. Jackson Dick is 70th (157).
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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