CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Chris Pollard has been appointed as the new head coach for Virginia’s baseball team, stepping in after a notable 13-year stint with their Atlantic Coast Conference counterpart, Duke.
Virginia’s Director of Athletics, Carla Williams, unveiled Pollard as the successor to Brian O’Connor, who departed on June 1 to take up the coaching position at Mississippi State.
During his tenure at Duke, Pollard achieved an impressive record of 420-296, leading the team to seven NCAA regional appearances, progressing to four super regionals, and clinching two ACC Tournament championships. The Blue Devils experienced a noteworthy season, hosting a super regional, though they were narrowly defeated by Murray State in three games.
Pollard’s overall coaching career spans 26 years, boasting a record of 806-614-3. He has previously held coaching roles at Pfeiffer from 2000 to 2004, Appalachian State from 2005 to 2012, and Duke from 2013 to 2025. Notably, he led Appalachian State to an NCAA Tournament berth in his final year with them, similar to his success at Duke in 2025.
Under Pollard’s guidance, the Blue Devils recently celebrated back-to-back seasons with over 40 wins, a first in the history of the program.
Now back with Virginia, Pollard inherits a program with a solid legacy. Under the leadership of O’Connor, Virginia reached 18 NCAA regionals, nine super regionals, and made seven appearances at the College World Series across 22 seasons. The program’s highlight was clinching the national championship in 2015. However, this season, Virginia ended with a 32-18 record, missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.