Baylor University Baseball

Mitch Thompson was selected as the 20th head baseball coach in program history on June 15, 2022. After nine seasons as the head coach of McLennan Community College and a previous 18-year stint as an assistant at Baylor, Thompson brings more than 30 years of coaching experience into his fourth season as Baylor head coach in 2026. One of the most highly respected coaches and recruiters in college baseball, Thompson returned to Baylor Ballpark after spending nearly two decades in the green and gold as a Baylor assistant. He previously helped lead the Bears to three Big 12 Conference titles, 12 NCAA Regional appearances, three Super Regional appearances and the 2005 College World Series during the most prolific stretch in program history from 1995 to 2012. Between 2014 and 2022, Thompson built Waco's own McLennan CC into one of the nation's premier junior college programs, coming off back-to-back JUCO World Series appearances, including the 2021 national title.

Brian Furlong is in his fourth season as Baylor baseball's director of player and pitching development, after joining the staff on August 18, 2022. In his role, Furlong drives the program's analytics and technology initiatives, while overseeing all aspects of video and data integration. He contributes to scouting and game planning efforts, and also serves as the program's camp director. Prior to joining the Baylor staff, Furlong spent the previous four seasons as the pitching coach at Xavier. During his time with the Musketeers, Furlong helped improve the pitching staff's ERA by nearly two runs against all opponents, and by over three runs in Big East play. In 2022, the Musketeers set a program record with 482 strikeouts, just one season after setting a program record with 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Prior to joining Xavier in July 2018, Furlong was the head coach at Heartland Community College in Illinois for two seasons in 2017 and 2018.

Darin Thomas is in his fourth season as Baylor's director of baseball operations, after joining the staff on August 2, 2022. Thomas joined the Bears in an off-the-field role after previously serving as the head coach at UT Arlington for 15 years, in addition to seven earlier seasons as an assistant with the Mavericks. In his role, Thomas serves as the lynch pin between the baseball office and ticketing, marketing and facilities departments within Baylor Athletics. Specific duties include coordination of team and recruiting travel, equipment management, handling practice and game video needs for the coaching staff, assistance with on-campus recruiting visits, compliance and student-athlete services. Over his 15-year tenure at the helm of UTA, Thomas accumulated 404 career wins and three conference tournament championships in 2001, 2006 and 2012. In his 22 total seasons in Arlington, 41 Mavs players were drafted or signed with MLB teams.

Jim Blair was hired as Baylor's third full-time assistant coach on July 1, 2023, after serving as the volunteer assistant during the 2023 campaign. He was introduced as a member of the staff and BU baseball's camp director on July 7, 2022. A former Baylor baseball player from 1996-98 and 22-year veteran coach at the high school and collegiate levels, Blair returns to Waco for his fourth season on staff in 2026. Blair helped the Bears take a big step forward in 2025, as BU went 33-22 overall, 13-17 in Big 12 play, and reached the Big 12 Tournament for the first time since 2022. In his role as the third-base coach and primary defensive responsibilities with the team's outfielders, Blair helped Baylor hit .286 as a team with 51 home runs and 110 doubles, all program highs in the Mitch Thompson era.

Sean Snedeker was announced as Baylor Baseball's pitching coach on June 12, 2024. The 32-year coaching veteran made an immediate impact and turned around a Baylor pitching staff to rank inside the top-30 nationally in four different categories in his first season with the program – BB/9 (3.23, 7th), WHIP (1.33, 22nd), K:BB Ratio (2.57, 27th) and ERA (4.52, 29th). In fact, BU's 3.23 BB/9 mark was the sixth-best in program history. Under Snedeker, the Bears were nearly two runs better on the bump, drastically improving their team ERA from a 6.51 in 2024 to a 4.52 mark in 2025. The team struck out 444 batters and limited free passes, allowing just 173 walks – the fewest in a complete season since 1976. Uniquely, the Bears started a left-handed pitcher in each of the team's last 44 games of the 2025 season, dating back to March 2. The 2025 season is the only season in the modern era (since 2003) that Baylor had started six different left-handed pitchers at any point in the year, and just t

Zach Dillon was announced as Baylor's hitting coach and recruiting coordinator on June 25, 2022. A former Baylor baseball player from 2003-06 and volunteer assistant coach in the 2012 season, Dillon returns to Waco for his fourth season as the Bears' assistant coach in 2026. Dillon helped the Bears take a big step forward in 2025, as BU went 33-22 overall, 13-17 in Big 12 play, and reached the Big 12 Tournament for the first time since 2022. In his role as the first-base coach, recruiting coordinator, and primary defensive responsibilities with the catchers, Dillon helped Baylor hit .286 as a team with 51 home runs and 110 doubles, all program highs in the Mitch Thompson era. Dillon was instrumental in mentoring standout shortstop Tyriq Kemp, a sixth-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals, to All-Big 12 First Team honors. A dazzling defender, Kemp was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which recognizes the nation's top shortstop, after putting together one of the st