Long-time MSU assistant Nick Mingione headed to Kentucky
STARKVILLE - John Cohen's coaching tree expanded on Monday. Former Mississippi State assistant coach Nick Mingione will become the new baseball coach at Kentucky, the school announced. He's the second MSU assistant coach to accept a head coaching position in the SEC within the last year.
“ We are grateful for what he has helped us accomplish at Mississippi State, including a national runner-up finish at the 2013 College World Series and the 2016 Southeastern Conference championship," Cohen said in a statement. "I’ve always thought he would make a terrific head coach."
Mingione was an assistant at Kentucky in 2006 and 2007 under Cohen. When Cohen came to Mississippi State in 2009, Mingione followed.
Mississippi State will undergo a transformation in the offseason coming off a run to the super regionals. Mingione and Auburn coach Butch Thompson were on staff at MSU up until the fall. Thompson accepted the head coaching job at Auburn last October. Mingione will become a first time head coach as well.
Within the roster, Mississippi State had a school-record 11 players selected in the MLB draft last weekend.
"Just like our former pitching coach Butch Thompson, I am glad Nick is getting an opportunity to become a head coach in the SEC," Cohen said.
The position at Kentucky opened after Gary Henderson resigned. Henderson went 258-199.
Mingione coached third base for MSU but his greatest strength was his ability to recruit. Two weeks ago, he spoke about talking with SEC Freshman of the Year Jake Mangum nearly every day for two years during his recruitment. When Mangum arrived on campus, Mingione coached him in the outfield. He developed the skill of converting high school infielders into outfielders, including Mangum, Reid Humphreys and Brent Rooker.
"He's done a great job with us," Mangum said. "He doesn't get a lot of credit for this but our outfield in years past and this year, we have a lot of outfielders in this program that weren't outfielders when they get here. We have a lot of guys that were middle infielders and third baseman in high school, they get to college and they've never had any outfield experience ever. Coach Mingione has had a lot of guys that have turned out to be great outfielders."
He built his niche for recruiting through 16 years of coaching experience, which began as an assistant coach at the high school level. He broke into the college ranks in 2002 at Florida Gulf Coast. He broke into the SEC in 2006 at Kentucky.
"It’s been a privilege to watch Nick develop as a person and a coach for a decade," Cohen said. "He’s a tireless recruiter who values relationships, and he’s done an outstanding job developing our players."
Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.