Around the SEC: Georgia Hires LSU Pitching Coach As New Head Baseball Coach

Georgia baseball has hired LSU pitching coach and former Mississippi State assistant Wes Johnson as the school's new head baseball coach, the university recently announced.

Johnson has been with LSU's coaching staff since the summer of 2022. He also has professional experience, serving as a pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins of the MLB in 2019 before being hired by the Tigers.

Johnson is no stranger to the SEC, having previous coaching stints with Mississippi State in 2016 and Arkansas in 2017 and 2018. Johnson’s extensive experience in the SEC and in the MLB is what appealed to Georgia, says ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Under Johnson, LSU ranked second in the SEC in batters struck out (675) and third in opposing batting average (.227). Johnson is expected to remain with the Tigers for the rest of the postseason. LSU is now in Omaha after sweeping both the Baton Rouge Regional and the Baton Rouge Super Regional.

Johnson will replace head coach Scott Stricklin, who was fired by Georgia after ten seasons with the university following the Bulldogs' exit from the SEC Tournament.