Cannizaro out as Bulldogs coach
Published 6:27 pm Tuesday, February 20, 2018
- Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro looks over his shoulder during a game last season. Cannizaro resigned Tuesday, just three games into his second season. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)
STARKVILLE (AP) — Andy Cannizaro resigned Tuesday as Mississippi State’s baseball coach, effective immediately.
“I had a wonderful opportunity at Mississippi State, but unfortunately I made some poor decisions. I hope Mississippi State University and all of the fans and people affected will one day forgive me,” Cannizaro said in a university release.
The nature of Cannizaro’s “poor decisions” wasn’t specified by him or Mississippi State officials. Word initially spread about Cannizaro’s dismissal late Monday night, with 247sports.com reporting that he was being fired for cause.
Athletic director John Cohen said Gary Henderson would serve as interim head coach. Henderson had been a pitching coach on Cannizaro’s staff. He was Kentucky’s head coach from 2009-16.
Henderson’s first game as coach is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Jackson State. An interview session scheduled for Tuesday with Mississippi State coaches and players was canceled.
“Although I have taken this position under some unfortunate circumstances, I have been with this team for two years,” Henderson said in a release. “We have great student-athletes and a tremendous staff who proudly represent our tradition-rich program. We will move forward, focusing on the things we can control and give Mississippi State fans a team they can be proud of.”
The 39-year-old Cannizaro was only in his second year on the job and had posted a 40-30 record. Mississippi State went 40-27 last season and reached an NCAA super regional. The Bulldogs opened this season by losing three straight games to Southern Miss.