STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball pitching coach Wes Johnson took the same position at Arkansas, coach Dave Van Horn announced Wednesday.
A source confirmed the hire earlier in the day.
“I am humbled to return home and represent the University of Arkansas baseball program,” Johnson said in an Arkansas release. “It is a program steeped in tradition and I am excited to work with coach Van Horn, his staff and the talented group of young men I am inheriting.”
Johnson is originally from Sherwood, Arkansas. The source said Johnson still has family living in Arkansas.
Johnson will take over for Dave Jorn, who announced his retirement in May. He had two different stints with the Razorbacks, including the last 14 seasons under Van Horn.
Johnson spent one season with MSU after being hired last October. He came to MSU after spending four seasons at Dallas Baptist. He began his college coaching career at Central Arkansas in 2007. He spent two seasons there before going to Southern Arkansas. He returned to Central Arkansas in 2010 and coached two seasons with the Bears. He began work at Dallas Baptist in 2012.
In just one year, he helped the Bulldog pitching staff become one of the best in the Southeastern Conference. MSU registered a team ERA of 3.35, fifth in the SEC. Of the school-record 11 players taken in last week’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, six were pitchers (Dakota Hudson, Reid Humphreys, Daniel Brown, Zac Houston, Vance Tatum and Austin Sexton). Reports indicate Humphreys is going to sign with the Colorado Rockies. MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported Wednesday that Brown and the Milwaukee Brewers have come to terms on a $225,500 deal.
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe tweeted Wednesday, “It’s official. Ready to start my career with the Rays.” Lowe, who began his career at Mercer and transferred to MSU from St. Johns River (Fla.) Community College last fall, was drafted in the 13th round by the Tampa Bay Rays. His younger brother, Joshua, was taken with the 13th overall pick by the Rays.
He was second on the team with a .348 batting average. He led the Bulldogs with 86 hits and 20 doubles. He had five home runs and 49 RBIs.
Johnson is the second assistant coach to leave this offseason. On Monday, Nick Mingione became the head coach at Kentucky. After not having to hire a pitching coach since taking over in 2009, MSU coach John Cohen will be searching for a third pitching coach in the last eight months. Johnson took over for Butch Thompson who was hired to lead the Auburn program last October.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.