New Mississippi State athletic director Greg Byrne unveiled his first hire Saturday, introducing John Cohen as the Bulldogs’ new baseball coach to dozens of cheering fans in Starkville.

Cohen, resigned his job at Kentucky on Friday, leaving behind offers of more money and facility upgrades to return to the school where he was an all-Southeastern Conference outfielder.

Ron Polk was not among those at the ceremony. Cohen’s hiring angered the former coach, who preferred his assistant, Tommy Raffo. Polk told Byrne this week he will remove his name from the stadium and the athletic department from his will until the athletic director leaves the school.

Both Cohen and Raffo played for Polk from 1987-90.