After June 1 when longtime head coach Brian O’Connor bid farewell and packed his bags for the SEC, Virginia baseball was left in disarray. With a disappointing season in the near past and players entering the portal left and right, it was clear that a strong new hire was necessary to replace the iconic O’Connor. It took just nine days for the next leader of the program to be named in Chris Pollard, and he is the perfect representative to carry on the dominance of Cavalier baseball that occurred the past two decades. Pollard checks every box of qualities someone could wish for in a head coach.
For starters, Pollard knows what it means to compete in a high-level conference like the ACC. Having been the head coach of Duke for the past 13 seasons, Pollard is used to the grind of an ACC season and knows what it takes to win. He has led Duke to a winning conference record in seven of the last 10 seasons, and has coached the Blue Devils to a winning overall record in 11 of his 13 seasons with the team.
Additionally, Pollard is a program builder. What O’Connor was to Virginia is what Pollard was to Duke and Appalachian State. He took a program that had made the NCAA Tournament just once in a couple decades before he arrived and became the all-time wins leader. His teams even won the 2021 and 2024 ACC Tournaments, an accomplishment that O’Connor had failed to do since 2011.
Pollard also did the same with the Mountaineers, turning them from a middling team to a dominant force in the Southern Conference. Before he departed Boone N.C., he got them their first conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance since the 1980s. Pollard has proven he can do a lot with a little, so the ample resources and success of this Cavalier program will allow him to shine even brighter and make Virginia a mainstay atop the national rankings.
The Cavaliers have been there before, but are in need of stability. Missing the NCAA Tournament in 2025 was a massive failure. Pollard will inherit greatness, but he must also ensure consistently just like he did at his previous stops.
With this success, it is no surprise that Pollard has been to the postseason plenty of times. He has coached in eight NCAA Tournaments throughout his time at Duke and Appalachian State, reaching four super regionals — all with the Blue Devils. While Pollard has yet to take a team to the College World Series, he will have that chip on his shoulder after an upset loss to Murray State June 9 sent his Duke squad packing this year just before they made it to Omaha, Neb.
Another benefit of Pollard’s hire is his ability to recruit. Like O’Connor, Pollard has shown a keen ability to recruit elite talent, like junior outfielder AJ Gracia, and diamonds in the rough, like graduate infielder Ben Miller, while getting ample success from both groups. He has had recruiting classes in the top 15 nationally and as low as 45 in recent years, yet has consistently taken his teams to the NCAA Tournament. Pollard also produced 46 MLB Draft picks during his time at Duke and seven All-Americans, proving to recruits that he can get them to the next level as well.
Pollard also makes strong bonds with his players, and they are often loyal to him. In a college sports world where many players choose to swap teams every year while chasing money or playing time, Pollard creates a culture that attracts talent and does not let it leave.
It appears as if Pollard’s connections with his players is already benefiting the Cavaliers, as multiple of his top players from last season have already committed to follow him to Virginia. Gracia, a projected first round draft pick in 2026, has already signed on to follow Pollard alongside sophomore two-way player Kyle Johnson. Incoming freshman pitcher Jayden Stroman, once committed to the Blue Devils, has also decided to join the program next season. Stroman is a top 200 high school recruit and will be a huge boost to the rotation in 2026.
Aside from players, Pollard is bringing most of his staff with him to Charlottesville, which is another big win given the success and experience that unit has. Assistant coach Brady Kirkpatrick is an up-and-comer in the coaching world and has been a part of numerous winning staffs like Harvard. He recently transformed Duke’s pitching into a dominant force, ranking second in the ACC in walks and hits allowed per inning. Recruiting director Brian Sakowski is new to the college game, but is a renowned high school coach and scout for Perfect Game. This new staff will look to revitalize a Cavalier roster that was decimated by the transfer portal.
All in all, Virginia baseball is back in good hands. Yes, the loss of a legendary coach can be scary and success is certainly not guaranteed in the future. However, there is no candidate more likely to bring this Cavalier program back to the College World Series and beyond than Pollard. Whether it be his track record of team success, his player recruitment and development skills or his experienced staff, Pollard is bringing the complete package to Charlottesville.
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