Missouri Tigers fire baseball coach Steve Bieser. Here’s what’s next for the program

The Missouri Tigers on Sunday parted ways with baseball coach Steve Bieser, announcing in an afternoon news release that he will not return for an eighth season in Columbia.

Athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois said MU will be increasing its investment in the school’s baseball program.

Bieser, 55, led the Tigers to a 30-24 overall record — but 10-20 mark in the SEC — this season. He leaves with a 188-155-1 record at Missouri.

“Baseball is important to our University, our conference, and our state,” Reed-Francois said in a statement. “We understand the vital role baseball plays, and we are committed to further increasing our investment in the program and look forward to future successes.”

Prior to being hired by MU in 2016, Bieser was the head coach at his college alma mater, Southeast Missouri State.

Before entering the coaching profession, he played at Southeast Missouri State and Jefferson College. He played pro baseball from to 2001.

Reed-Francois indicated the search for Bieser’s successor is underway.

“We will work quickly and expeditiously,” she said, “to find the candidate who is the best fit to return Mizzou baseball to the national stage.”

This season, the Tigers qualified for their first SEC tournament since 2019. But they were ousted by Auburn in the first round and last earned a berth in the NCAA tournament in 2012.

Bieser, in a statement released by Mizzou, seemed to understand the need for a new direction.

“We have faced many challenges along the way,” he said, “but the bottom line is we just didn’t win enough games in this tough and rugged conference.

“I want to thank all of the players that I have had a great opportunity to coach. You’ve always represented this program in a first-class manner and I’m proud of you.”