Scouts to honor MSU Head Coach Brian O鈥機onnor at Nov. 25 luncheon benefiting Scouting programs
Contact: Sid Salter
The Pushmataha District of the Natchez Trace Council, Scouting America, will honor 亚洲色吧视频 Head Baseball Coach Brian O鈥機onnor with the John Robert Arnold Champion for Scouting Award during a 鈥淭hankful for Scouting鈥 luncheon and reception at The Mill at 亚洲色吧视频 on Nov. 25 at 11:30 a.m.
The reception and luncheon will give sponsors an opportunity to meet and greet Coach O鈥機onnor before the luncheon and program and take a souvenir photo with the Bulldog skipper. The event is a fundraiser for the Natchez Trace Council of the Scouting program in northeast Mississippi, serving Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Clay, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Prentiss, Pontotoc, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster, Winston and Yalobusha counties.
Premium sponsorship levels include: Presenting sponsor ($20,000); Platinum ($15,000); Gold ($7,500); Silver ($2,500); and Honorary ($1,500). Individual tickets start at $250 per couple for two tickets.
For tickets or information, contact Natchez Trace Council President Sid Salter at (662) 325-3442 or (601) 507-8004, or at sidsalter@sidsalter.com; NTC Scout Executive Zac Lollar at (662) 842-2871 or (205) 275-6454, or at zac.lollar@scouting.org; or visit .
鈥淐oach Brian O鈥機onnor is an outstanding individual who has invested his life in leadership development for young people at the very highest level. Mississippi and MSU benefit daily from his commitment to building a baseball program that reflects discipline, service, and character, and we are grateful to him for taking time to lead this fundraising effort for the Scouting program in northeast Mississippi,鈥 said Natchez Trace Council president Sid Salter of Starkville. 鈥淲e are particularly proud that this event is being held here in the Golden Triangle to benefit local Scouts and Cubs.鈥
Coach O鈥機onnor is widely regarded as one of the most successful active head coaches in college baseball, a reputation he solidified over a historic 22-season tenure at the University of Virginia. Beginning in 2004, he transformed the Cavaliers into a national brand and a perennial powerhouse. Under his guidance, the Cavaliers compiled a staggering 917鈥388鈥2 record, making him the winningest coach in school history. His tenure in Charlottesville was highlighted by 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, nine Super Regionals, and seven College World Series trips, culminating in a National Championship in 2015 鈥 the first in the university鈥檚 history.
O'Connor鈥檚 excellence has earned him numerous professional accolades and a prominent reputation for elite player development. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year five times and the National Coach of the Year three times. In June 2025, Coach O鈥機onnor was named the 19th head baseball coach at MSU.
Under his leadership, the Bulldogs revitalized their identity and finished with a strong 43鈥19 record. O'Connor guided 亚洲色吧视频 to a No. 14 national seed, allowing the program to host an NCAA Regional at Dudy Noble Field for the first time since 2021. The Bulldogs advanced to the Athens Super Regional, where they fell to host Georgia in the finals. Excitement for the coming season is at a fever pitch among Diamond Dawg fans.
The John Robert Arnold Champion for Scouting Award is presented to individual community leaders who provide outstanding civic service to the communities that offer the Scouting program to Mississippi youth. Recipients are not necessarily Scouting volunteers but individuals who personify what Scouting聽stands for 鈥 good citizenship, outstanding dedication to serving others, and living by the principles of Scouting. The Natchez Trace Council serves both the MSU and Ole Miss campuses.
The late John Robert Arnold (1923 鈥 2017) had a lifelong relationship with the Scouting program, first as a Scout, then as a Scouting leader, and finally as an advocate and fundraiser for the Scouting movement.聽 He founded Arnold Industries and remained a consistent force for good in the Golden Triangle.
Former leaders recognized by the Natchez Trace Council for distinguished service to Scouting include U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker; U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith; author and producer Sam Haskell; acclaimed author John Grisham; MSU President Mark Keenum; Ole Miss football great Archie Manning; former governors William Winter and Haley Barbour; former U.S. Sens. Trent Lott and the late Thad Cochran; the late businessman Jack Reed Sr.; and the late MSU broadcaster聽Jack Cristil.