STARKVILLE — In the eyes of first-year athletics director Zac Selmon, the best way for Mississippi State baseball to return to fulfilling expectations is by retaining the coach who brought the program to its pinnacle with a national championship in 2021.

Despite finishing 9-21 in the SEC for a second consecutive season, Selmon is entrusting coach Chris Lemonis to turn the program around.

“We fell short of the expectation,” Selmon told the Clarion Ledger on Friday. “We fell short of the standard. Nobody wants to get that right more than (Lemonis) and his staff. He’s somebody that has won a national championship and (surpassed) over 300 careers wins, so winning is in his DNA. I think the plan that he’s outlining to me − I feel confident in him to be able to execute it and get everybody back to where we want to be and we know we should be.”

GOING PRO: Mississippi State baseball season is over. What we know about 2023 MLB Draft for Bulldogs

NEW HIRE: Why Chris Lemonis believes Mississippi State baseball can still land a top pitching coach

MOVING FORWARD: What Chris Lemonis must do to fix Mississippi State's baseball woes — and why he feels he can

Lemonis, 53, is set to make $1.3 million next season − the third year of a four-year contract that ends in June 2025. The Bulldogs were 27-26 this season. In four seasons at MSU, Lemonis has compiled a 167-93 record but only 58-62 in SEC.

Did the way the season end show promise?

In referencing expectations around the program, Selmon not only mentioned the national title but also the groundwork that made it possible. He mentioned the likes of legendary coach Ron Polk, whose statue was erected outside Dudy Noble Field in April.

In returning to fulfilling those standards, Selmon believes the last two weeks of the season were promising. Despite going 3-3 and failing to crack the SEC Tournament field, the Bulldogs didn't go down without a fight.

Mississippi State won perhaps the most surprising series of the conference schedule, taking down LSU on the road in the penultimate weekend. That was followed by a series loss against Texas A&M in which MSU rallied for a walk-off win in the opener before a pair of tight losses − including a near-comeback in a meaningless finale.

While six run-rule losses stand out, there were also plenty of defeats in which a two-strike or two-out hit – or a combination of both – allowed by MSU wound up being crucial. With adjustments, Selmon, a former football player at Wake Forest, feels those tight losses could turn into memorable wins.

“The margin of victory or defeat is so slim,” Selmon said. “I always look at it as what are the little things? What are the details, the small things that over time add up to big results?”

What about a pitching coach?

Part of Mississippi State’s turnaround centers around Lemonis’ search for a pitching coach. Scott Foxhall was fired on May 1, and Lemonis has since said he’s confident MSU can find an elite replacement.

Does Mississippi State’s reputation still hold enough power to attract a top name? Selmon emphatically says yes.

“I think it’s the best pitching coach job in America,” Selmon said. “You can truly go big-game hunting as far as from a recruiting standpoint. Mississippi State’s got everything – all the ingredients − to go get top level talent and play in front of the best fan base in college sports.”

Part of attracting top talent, specifically from the transfer portal which opens Monday, is NIL. Players want to go where there is money to be made, and Selmon knows MSU has to be at the forefront.

While frustration may be building around the program, Selmon believes fans have the opportunity to help the program return to expectations.

“Success isn’t in a vacuum," Selmon said. "Success doesn’t happen with just a small group of student-athletes or one coach. Success happens collectively. I think we need everybody – fans, Bulldog Club members, season ticket holders, students, faculty (and) staff to be part of this. This isn’t coach Lemonis’ program. This isn’t my athletics department. This is our university. This is our program.”

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball: AD Zac Selmon trusts coach Chris Lemonis