Missouri State is taking a full-program approach to building its future, and it starts off the field with a series of “Coaches Caravans” rolling across Southwest Missouri, with Corey Riggs joining the conversation to break down what these stops mean for the program’s long-term direction. Stops in places like Springfield, Republic, and an upcoming visit to the Nixa/Ozark area are giving fans direct access to coaching staffs from football, basketball, and baseball. It highlights a coordinated effort to stay connected to alumni, season ticket holders, and local supporters through Q&As, meet-and-greets, and giveaways, while also reinforcing the idea that the program’s identity extends well beyond campus.

Listen to the full conversation here:

That outreach is also starting to show up in tangible results. The initiative has already helped identify and secure talent that might have otherwise gone unnoticed, adding another layer to Missouri State’s recruiting footprint. It’s a reminder that modern roster-building doesn’t just happen in facilities, it happens in gymnasiums, community centers, and small-town conversations across the region, where relationships can turn into future impact on the field.

On the diamond, the Bears are fighting to keep their postseason positioning sharp as the regular season tightens. A strong national RPI, currently sitting around No. 23, keeps Missouri State firmly in at-large NCAA Tournament contention, even after a frustrating series loss to Jacksonville State that exposed inconsistencies in execution and bullpen reliability. Head coach Joey Hawkins has made it clear the margin for error is shrinking, especially as the team prepares for a critical series against New Mexico State.

Pitching remains the focal point heading into the final stretch, with Jason Schoeff continuing to anchor the staff as a dependable late-season presence. With Conference USA’s unique 9-team, 3-pool tournament format rewarding top seeds with an extra day of rest, positioning becomes just as important as performance. Add in potential weather disruptions and NCAA projections still placing the Bears in regional consideration, and every remaining game now carries postseason weight, where momentum, timing, and execution all have to line up at once.