Brian O’Connor’s wife, Cindy Petratis, is also a graduate of Saint Albert High School.
Coach Brian O’Connor is leaving Virginia baseball after 22 seasons and heading to Mississippi State, as per sources close to the team who asked to remain anonymous.
In a written message to the team, which was shared with The Cavalier Daily, O’Connor announced that he was taking the head coaching position at Mississippi State. Brian said,
“I have chosen to accept this opportunity because I need a new challenge and am excited about this next chapter of my life,”
Brian O’Connor
There was speculation over the past week that the Virginia coach was a frontrunner for the Mississippi State position. Now, he will officially head to Starkville.
He also said that senior leadership, associate head coach Kevin McMullan, assistant coach Matt Kirby, and Justin Armistead, associate athletic director for baseball administration, will be joining him at Mississippi State.
Brian, just the program’s third coach since 1962, is Virginia’s all-time wins leader with 917 victories. He also ranks first in program history in winning percentage, ACC wins, and winning percentage.
In his written statement to the team, Brian said that at Virginia, he had been lucky to work alongside a group of dedicated players and coaching staff. He said,
I want to thank each of you for your dedication, tireless work and loyalty during our time together,” “You and the many players before you have made Virginia baseball what it is, as you have heard me say before — it is the players that make the program what it is.”
Brian O’Connor
His departure marks the end of the most successful era in program history. He noted that Virginia’s administration will put together a plan for his replacement and communicate with the program.
Brian O’Connor Is Married To His High School Sweetheart, Cindy Petratis
An American college baseball head coach at Mississippi State University, Brian O’Connor, tied the knot with his high school sweetheart, Cindy Petratis of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in October 1995.
Following their marriage, they resided in South Bend. They have been married for over 29 years.
Cindy has been a steady, supportive presence throughout Brian’s coaching career.
During Brian’s challenging moments in the 2015 baseball season, when Virginia’s postseason hopes were uncertain, Cindy supported Brian.
Cindy noted that despite the team’s struggles and adversity, Brian never lost faith. She added,
“He never came home and said, ‘It’s not going to happen,’
Cindy Petratis
Brian O’Connor And His Wife, Cindy, Lives With Their Three Children
Brian O’Connor and Cindy were blessed with their first child, a daughter named Ellie O’Connor, born on 24 in 2001.
Ellie received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from High Point University in May 2022.
As per her LinkedIn profile, she was a global corporate communications intern at Allegion, PLC, from June 2020 to August 2020.
She was also a baseball intern at Creative Artists Agency. Since March 2023, she has been serving as the assistant to the athletic director at University Athletic Association Inc.
Brian and Cindy welcomed their second child, a daughter, Maggie O’Connor, 22, in 2003.
Maggie attended The Covenant School from 2016 to 2020 and graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2024.
As per her LinkedIn profile, she was a brand ambassador of American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
Since July 2024, she has been serving as a junior computer scientist and engineer at TEC Solutions.
Brian and Cindy welcomed their third child, a son, Dillon O’Connor, 18, in 2007.
Dillon is a highly projectable right-handed pitcher from the class of 2026, currently attending Miller School Virginia and competing with the elite Canes VA travel team.
Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 200 lbs, he features a fastball that tops out at 89 mph with a consistent range of 86-89 mph, complemented by a sharp slider that serves as a standout secondary pitch.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Brian O’Connor graduated from Creighton University in 1993, where, as a pitcher, he posted a career record of 20-13 with seven saves and a 3.78 ERA.
- He was an integral starter in Creighton’s 1991 College World Series team.
- Brian was selected in the 29th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
