Baseball Coach Christian Ostrander Signed to New Four-Year Deal
9/11/2025 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain announced Thursday that the school has signed baseball coach Christian Ostrander to a new four-year deal.
"I am extremely grateful for the contract extension that has been given to me by our administration," said Ostrander. "The University of Southern Mississippi is a special place and Southern Miss baseball is a special program. My family and I absolutely love it here in Hattiesburg. This is where we want to be, and I am honored to get this opportunity."
Ostrander, widely regarded as one of the nation's top pitching coaches in the country, became the 14th head baseball coach at Southern Miss when he was elevated to the Golden Eagles' top spot following the 2023 season. Ostrander became only the fifth coach to lead the program since 1959, following Pete Taylor (1959-83), Hill Denson (1984-1997), Corky Palmer (1998-2009), and Scott Berry (2010-2023).
In two seasons, Ostrander has garnered more wins than any of his predecessors over that time – 90 – and has led the program to two NCAA Regional finals.
During the 2025 campaign, Ostrander guided the Golden Eagle baseball program to a 47-16 record, tying the second-most victories at the school for a season. The team went on a school-best winning streak that lasted 18 games, helping them earn their fourth hosting berth of an NCAA Regional in its history. In the process, the Golden Eagles kept their string of consecutive 30-plus win (23) and 40-plus win seasons (9) alive – both of which are the longest in Division I baseball. They also tied their longest consecutive streak of NCAA Tournament appearances at nine, while making their 21st overall appearance.
Southern Miss finished second during the Sun Belt regular season with a 24-6 record, while reaching the league's tournament championship game for the third-straight season. The Golden Eagles fell to Coastal Carolina in the final 7-5. In addition, Ostrander mentored the school's fifth Ferriss Trophy winner, JB Middleton, which also marked the fourth pitcher to win the award from the school.
Middleton, who also earned first team All-America honors, led seven Golden Eagles to make All-Sun Belt honors. Middleton earned a first team nod along with the league's Player of the Year Nick Monistere, Carson Paetow, who also earned the league's Tony Robichaux Leadership Award, and Colby Allen. Matthew Russo, Ozzie Pratt, and Jake Cook collected second-team honors.
In his first year at the helm, he led the team to a 43-20 record, finishing second in the Sun Belt Conference regular season standings before capturing the league's tournament title. The program won 14 of 15 games heading into the NCAA Tournament. Behind the second longest hitting streak in school history of 36 games, Slade Wilks earned All-America third-team honors by two different organizations, while also adding a first-team Academic All-America nod.
The Golden Eagles had five players named all-conference including Wilks and pitcher Billy Oldham, collecting first-team honors. Pitcher Niko Mazza, shortstop Ozzie Pratt and outfielder Dalton McIntyre all collected second team accolades.
Before taking the top job, Ostrander served as the associate head coach for the previous two seasons and had been with the program for six years overall overseeing the pitching staff for the Golden Eagles.
Ostrander's new deal runs through the 2029 season.
"I am extremely grateful for the contract extension that has been given to me by our administration," said Ostrander. "The University of Southern Mississippi is a special place and Southern Miss baseball is a special program. My family and I absolutely love it here in Hattiesburg. This is where we want to be, and I am honored to get this opportunity."
Ostrander, widely regarded as one of the nation's top pitching coaches in the country, became the 14th head baseball coach at Southern Miss when he was elevated to the Golden Eagles' top spot following the 2023 season. Ostrander became only the fifth coach to lead the program since 1959, following Pete Taylor (1959-83), Hill Denson (1984-1997), Corky Palmer (1998-2009), and Scott Berry (2010-2023).
In two seasons, Ostrander has garnered more wins than any of his predecessors over that time – 90 – and has led the program to two NCAA Regional finals.
During the 2025 campaign, Ostrander guided the Golden Eagle baseball program to a 47-16 record, tying the second-most victories at the school for a season. The team went on a school-best winning streak that lasted 18 games, helping them earn their fourth hosting berth of an NCAA Regional in its history. In the process, the Golden Eagles kept their string of consecutive 30-plus win (23) and 40-plus win seasons (9) alive – both of which are the longest in Division I baseball. They also tied their longest consecutive streak of NCAA Tournament appearances at nine, while making their 21st overall appearance.
Southern Miss finished second during the Sun Belt regular season with a 24-6 record, while reaching the league's tournament championship game for the third-straight season. The Golden Eagles fell to Coastal Carolina in the final 7-5. In addition, Ostrander mentored the school's fifth Ferriss Trophy winner, JB Middleton, which also marked the fourth pitcher to win the award from the school.
Middleton, who also earned first team All-America honors, led seven Golden Eagles to make All-Sun Belt honors. Middleton earned a first team nod along with the league's Player of the Year Nick Monistere, Carson Paetow, who also earned the league's Tony Robichaux Leadership Award, and Colby Allen. Matthew Russo, Ozzie Pratt, and Jake Cook collected second-team honors.
In his first year at the helm, he led the team to a 43-20 record, finishing second in the Sun Belt Conference regular season standings before capturing the league's tournament title. The program won 14 of 15 games heading into the NCAA Tournament. Behind the second longest hitting streak in school history of 36 games, Slade Wilks earned All-America third-team honors by two different organizations, while also adding a first-team Academic All-America nod.
The Golden Eagles had five players named all-conference including Wilks and pitcher Billy Oldham, collecting first-team honors. Pitcher Niko Mazza, shortstop Ozzie Pratt and outfielder Dalton McIntyre all collected second team accolades.
Before taking the top job, Ostrander served as the associate head coach for the previous two seasons and had been with the program for six years overall overseeing the pitching staff for the Golden Eagles.
Ostrander's new deal runs through the 2029 season.
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