Michael Bonner

The Clarion-Ledger

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s search for its 17th athletic director concluded at Dudy Noble Field.

MSU baseball coach John Cohen will be the school’s next athletic director, multiple sources told The Clarion-Ledger on Wednesday. The same sources said that Cohen is expected to be introduced on Tuesday, which Mississippi State president Mark Keenum denied as part of a terse statement that argued against the validity of the entire report.

“I announced on Sept. 26 that a nationwide search was underway to choose Mississippi State University’s next Director of Athletics," Keenum said. "In that announcement, I outlined the process we would observe in which we would engage an executive search firm to help guide the effort and that we would seek substantive input from MSU stakeholders during the search. We are following that plan.

“... At present, no decisions have been made, no announcements prepared, and no press conferences scheduled. Neither I nor any of the university’s senior communications staff was asked to confirm or deny Mr. Bonner’s story prior to his publication of it. Perhaps that’s most disappointing of all.

“We’re not going to make this personnel decision in the media. We will follow our plan, we will conduct this search in the manner we previously outlined, and we will ultimately make the best decision for Mississippi State. This will be done in an expeditious timeline, but on our timeline.”

This would be the fourth consecutive Mississippi State athletic director search that ended with an in-house hire.

Scott Stricklinaccepted the same position at Florida earlier this month.

Cohen has been the baseball coach at Mississippi State since 2009. He also played as a member of MSU's baseball team from 1988-90. But he has no prior athletic director experience. However, he traveled with former MSU athletic directors Greg Byrne and Scott Stricklin when the duo hired football coach Dan Mullen. Byrne said he wouldn't have pulled the trigger on hiring Mullen if both weren't on board.

Sources also told The Clarion-Ledger that Cohen had been involved in other coaching searches during his tenure.

The Clarion-Ledger reported earlier this week that Keenum began interviewing candidates this week, but Cohen remained as the favorite.

Stricklin accepted the position at Florida in late September and saidt talks with the university became serious in August. With MSU aware of Stricklin leaving, Cohen became a candidate prior to the position's opening.

When Stricklin extended Cohen's contract in July, he added the title of associate athletic director — a sign of things to come.

Cohen's new job leaves a vacancy on the diamond. MSU already underwent staff changes with the promotion of Will Coggin to hitting coach and bringing in Gary Henderson as pitching coach. While Henderson has head coaching experience, sources said he is not expected to replace Cohen. The new athletic director has other plans.

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter. Like Michael Bonner Clarion-Ledger on Facebook.