John Cohen promotes Thompson, Mingione

After hitting coach Lane Burroughs left last week to take the head coaching position at Northwestern State in Louisiana, Coach John Cohen wasted no time filling Burroughs' former spot* by promoting "coordinator of camps" Nick Mingione to a full time assistant coaching position. Mingione has been on staff at MSU since 2008.

Cohen also promote pitching coach Butch Thompson to associate head coach. Thompson had been under scrutiny in some previous seasons for the pitching staff but certainly was not in 2012, as State finished with a staff ERA of 2.58 that was 2nd best in the nation, 1st in the SEC and the best at Mississippi State since 1974.

Here's the full release (via HailState.com):

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University baseball head coach John Cohen Friday announced staff promotions for two members of the MSU baseball coaching staff. Pitching coach Butch Thompson is being promoted to associate head coach while coordinator of camps Nick Mingione will become a full-time assistant coach. The staff changes are effective July 1.

Thompson, in his fourth season on Cohen's Mississippi State staff, directed the development of Bulldog pitchers who compiled the nation's second-best staff earned run average in 2012 (2.58). It ranked as the best mark in the Southeastern Conference and the lowest staff ERA at Mississippi State since 1974.

The Bulldogs rode that pitching to a 40-24 record, including a championship-clinching 5-1 run in the 2012 SEC Baseball Tournament last month in Hoover, Ala., and the school's 32nd berth in NCAA postseason competition.

"Coach Thompson has done it all. His attention to detail, his tireless work ethic, and his knowledge of the game make him more than just an asset to our program. This is an opportunity for us to recognize his achievements on and off the field," said Cohen. "Our pitching staff's accent to elite status didn't happen by accident. It reflects Butch's commitment to excellence"

Mingione, in his fourth year at State and his second coaching affiliation with Cohen, assumes full-time assistant coaching duties. He replaces assistant coach Lane Burroughs, who this week resigned to become head baseball coach at Northwestern State.

"Coach Mingione has been an integral part of our baseball program for the past four years. His commitment to Mississippi State Baseball has been undeniable. Nick brings a vast coaching skill set and is subsequently a natural choice for this position," Cohen said.

*we're ASSUMING Mingione was promoted to Burroughs' spot as hitting coach. The release does not specifically say that.