O’Connor to be Inducted into ABCA Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The American Baseball Coaches Association announced its 10-member Hall of Fame Class on Wednesday (July 5) and it included Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor. He will be inducted at the 2024 ABCA Hall of Fame Banquet held on Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center as part of the 2024 ABCA Convention.

Induction to the ABCA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the organization. The ABCA was founded in 1945 and the Hall of Fame began in 1966, with more than 350 inductees.

O’Connor completed his 20th year as the head coach at Virginia that culminated with the program’s sixth College World Series appearance, all of which have come since 2009. The Cavaliers were one of five teams to win 50 games in 2023, the fifth 50-win season by Virginia in the last 14 years. As a team, UVA co-led the country in batting average (.332) and boasted a 3.81 ERA, the fourth lowest in the nation.

“I’m incredibly humbled by such a prestigious honor,” said O’Connor. “To enjoy the sustained success that we have had at the University of Virginia, it starts with great players. I’ve been fortunate enough to have not only great players, but tremendously loyal and dedicated assistant coaches. I can’t thank our former players, our past and present coaches enough. They all have been so integral in the success of this baseball program and I share this honor with every one of them.”

It was a milestone year for O’Connor, who won his 800th career game with a 12-6 win over Rhode Island on March 4 becoming the eighth coach in ACC history to reach the 800-win mark. In 20 seasons he’s accumulated a record of 839-353-2 with a winning percentage of .704, the highest of any active D-I college baseball coach.

Brian O’Connor Career Highlights

• 2015 National Champion (one of 7 active coaches to own a national title)
• Became the program’s all-time wins leader on May 28, 2016 with his 595th win, a 7-2 victory over Louisville in the ACC Tournament.
• Named the ACC Coach of the Decade (2010-19) by D1Baseball.com
• Three-time National Coach of the Year (2006, ‘09, ‘15)
• Four-time ACBA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year (2004, ‘09, ‘11, ‘14, ‘15)
• Five-time ACC Coach of the Year (2004, ‘10, ‘11, ‘13, ‘14)
• 17 NCAA tournament appearances including 14-straight seasons from 2004-17 (UVA had been to three NCAA tournaments prior to his arrival)
• Guided UVA to 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2021 and 2023 College World Series including the 2014 and 2015 CWS Finals
• Has won eight NCAA Regional Championships and six super regionals
• Led UVA to 2010, 2011 and 2023 ACC Coastal Division titles
• One of eight coaches in history of ACC with 300 conference wins
• Five 50-win seasons (51 in 2010, 56 in 2011, 50 in 2013, 53 in 2014, 50 in 2023)
• Guided UVA to school-record win total each year from 2009-11 (49 in 2009, 51 in 2010, 56 in 2011)
• 94 players picked in Major League Baseball Draft over the last 19 years and 30 have reached the big leagues
• UVA has had 38 All-America and 90 all-conference selections in his tenure

2024 ABCA Hall of Fame Inductees
Cal Bailey, West Virginia State University
Danny Hall, Georgia Tech
Pat McQuaid, Nova High School (FL)
Jim Morris, University of Miami (FL)
Brian O’Connor, University of Virginia
Tim Pettorini, The College of Wooster (OH)
John Vodenlich, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Jim Wells, University of Alabama
Wayne Welton, Chelsea High School (MI)
Jeff Willis, LSU Eunice