Virginia’s Brian O’Connor elected to Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame

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Posted on Wednesday, Jul. 5, 2023, 10:52 pm

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: UVA Athletics

Brian O’Connor is a Hall of Famer.

The veteran Virginia coach, who has established the Cavaliers as one of the nation’s most successful baseball programs during his two decades at the helm, has been elected to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. O’Connor is part of a 10-member Class of 2024 and will be inducted in January.

“I’m incredibly humbled by such a prestigious honor,” O’Connor said Wednesday about receiving the highest honor the coaches association can give. “To enjoy the sustained success that we have had at the University of Virginia, it starts with great players. I’ve been fortunate enough to have not only great players, but tremendously loyal and dedicated assistant coaches. I can’t thank our former players, our past and present coaches enough. They all have been so integral in the success of this baseball program and I share this honor with every one of them.”

The Virginia coach is coming off a banner year in which he won his 800th career game, won the ACC Coastal Division, won a Regional and Super Regional, advancing to the College World Series for the sixth time since 2009. UVA was one of only five teams to win 50 games this past season, O’Connor’s fifth 50-win season in the last 14 years. His team also led the nation in batting average (.332) in 2023.

O’Connor Career Highlights

  • 2015 National Champion (one of 7 active coaches to own a national title)
  • Became the program’s all-time wins leader on May 28, 2016 with his 595th win, a 7-2 victory over Louisville in the ACC Tournament.
  • Named the ACC Coach of the Decade (2010-19) by D1Baseball.com
  • Three-time National Coach of the Year (2006, ‘09, ‘15)
  • Four-time ACBA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year (2004, ‘09, ‘11, ‘14, ‘15)
  • Five-time ACC Coach of the Year (2004, ‘10, ‘11, ‘13, ‘14)
  • 17 NCAA tournament appearances including 14-straight seasons from 2004-17 (UVA had been to three NCAA tournaments prior to his arrival)
  • Guided UVA to 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2021 and 2023 College World Series including the 2014 and 2015 CWS Finals
  • Has won eight NCAA Regional Championships and six super regionals
  • Led UVA to 2010, 2011 and 2023 ACC Coastal Division titles
  • One of eight coaches in history of ACC with 300 conference wins
  • Five 50-win seasons (51 in 2010, 56 in 2011, 50 in 2013, 53 in 2014, 50 in 2023)
  • Guided UVA to school-record win total each year from 2009-11 (49 in 2009, 51 in 2010, 56 in 2011)
  • 94 players picked in Major League Baseball Draft over the last 19 years and 30 have reached the big leagues
  • UVA has had 38 All-America and 90 all-conference selections in his tenure

2024 ABCA Hall of Fame Inductees
Cal Bailey, West Virginia State University
Danny Hall, Georgia Tech
Pat McQuaid, Nova High School (FL)
Jim Morris, University of Miami (FL)
Brian O’Connor, University of Virginia
Tim Pettorini, The College of Wooster (OH)
John Vodenlich, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Jim Wells, University of Alabama
Wayne Welton, Chelsea High School (MI)
Jeff Willis, LSU Eunice