Mississippi State received another boost to its athletics department on Friday with the gift of $2 million coming from a pair of longtime Bulldog supporters.
Bo and Nikki McKinnis, who now live in Tennessee but continue to wear their maroon and white proudly, made the hefty donation to the State Excellence Fund on Friday. The fundraising initiative, formerly known as the Bulldog Club, is dedicated to supporting student-athlete resources along with recruiting and retaining talent.
“First and foremost, Bo has been a tremendous friend and advisor during my time getting to know him,” Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon said. “He is a great man, and we are so fortunate to have him as part of the Mississippi State family. This thoughtful gift is one of many examples that highlight Bo and Nikki’s solution-oriented approach and their unrelenting generosity in uplifting those around them. We are incredibly thankful.”
Bo received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi State, where he also served as student manager for the baseball team. He currently serves as president of the Bulldog Club Board of Directors and is a member of the MSU Foundation Board of Directors.
Bo owns McKinnis Sports Management in Nashville and has represented over 100 MLB players. He became the first and only agent in 2012 to represent both Cy Young Award winners in the same year when the Tampa Bay Rays’ David Price and the New York Mets’ R.A. Dickey earned the honor for best pitcher in their respective league.
According to Bo, his family’s ongoing support of Mississippi State is the least they can do for a university that has done so much for them.
“Mississippi State has meant a tremendous amount to our family,” Bo said. “The education, the friendships, and the memories are priceless. I’ve seen the work Zac and our head coaches are performing to position us to achieve and maintain success on a national level in all sports.
“We’re happy to give back to [Mississippi State] and to help provide Zac and his team with the resources to succeed. We hope other Bulldog fans join us in choosing to invest in the future of Mississippi State. Whether it is through sharing positivity about our sports programs or making a gift, regardless of the amount, each act will help propel us forward.”
The generous donation from the McKinnises comes on the heels of a December donation of $1.75 million coming from a family who chose to remain anonymous. In September, an $8 million donation was made anonymously with the donor asking for the gift to be used solely on the football program.
