Columbia News

Mizzou Baseball has appointed Drew Dickinson as its new pitching coach, head coach Kerrick Jackson announced on Tuesday. Dickinson comes to Missouri after six years at the University of Virginia, where he played a key role in guiding the Cavaliers’ pitching staff and contributed to three College World Series appearances.

"Drew's incredible track record speaks for itself," Jackson said. "He's developed elite arms, competed deep into the postseason and helped build one of the most consistently productive pitching staffs in the country. This is a major statement for the future of Mizzou Baseball and helps position our program to reach our ultimate destination of Omaha. We are thrilled to welcome Drew and his family to Columbia."

During his tenure at Virginia, Dickinson led a pitching staff that was regularly among national leaders in earned run average (ERA), strikeouts, and efficiency. From 2021-24, Virginia posted a team ERA of 4.02, which ranked 10th nationally and was the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Cavaliers also struck out over 2,500 batters during that period—third-most in the ACC—and finished second in staff ERA within their conference in 2025.

Under Dickinson’s guidance, Virginia reached the College World Series three times (2021, 2023, 2024) and saw several pitchers selected in Major League Baseball drafts, including Andrew Abbott (second round, 2021) and Connelly Early (fifth round, 2023). In 2023 specifically, his staff recorded a 3.81 ERA—fourth-best nationally—and excelled in both strikeout-to-walk ratio and limiting walks per nine innings. That postseason run included holding opponents to five total runs during regional play—the fewest allowed by any team that year.

Dickinson’s impact extended beyond performance metrics; his teams at UVA broke records such as most strikeouts in a season (687 in 2021), with five pitchers drafted into MLB that same year—the second-highest number from any college pitching staff nationwide.

Virginia also signed six top-30 recruiting classes according to PerfectGame.com while Dickinson was on staff—including top-20 classes four times between 2021 and 2025.

Prior to joining Virginia’s coaching ranks, Dickinson spent eight seasons at Illinois—his alma mater—where he oversaw multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and contributed to a Big Ten championship season featuring fifty wins in 2015. Across both Illinois and Virginia stints combined, he has developed two Big Ten Pitchers of the Year along with more than twelve All-Americans and over twenty professional pitchers. At Illinois specifically, he coached two first-round MLB draft picks: Tyler Jay (No.6 overall by Minnesota Twins in 2015) and Cody Sedlock (No.27 overall by Baltimore Orioles in 2016).

"This is an incredible opportunity, and I'm beyond excited to join Mizzou Baseball," Dickinson said. "This program has a proud tradition of producing high-caliber pitchers, and I can't wait to build on that legacy while competing in the best baseball conference in the country. I'm grateful to Coach Jackson for believing in me and trusting me to help shape the future of this staff."

Dickinson himself was twice named an All-American player at Illinois (2001–2002) while setting school records for career victories (30) along with ranking among school leaders for wins within conference play as well as strikeouts and innings pitched before being drafted by Oakland Athletics for a seven-year professional playing career.

He is joined by his wife Michelle and their son Drasen.