South Carolina Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri Resigns After Losing Streak South Carolina baseball coach Paul Mainieri resigned Saturday morning, shortly after the Gamecocks suffered a 22-6 defeat to seventh-ranked Arkansas in their series opener. The loss marked the team’s sixth consecutive setback at Founders Park, where the stadium was largely empty. Mainieri, 68, had faced mounting pressure in recent days as the program struggled to turn its season around. Mainieri, who took over the South Carolina program in 2023, led the team to a 40-40 overall record and a 6-28 mark in the SEC over less than two full seasons. His tenure included a national championship in 2009 and five College World Series appearances during his time at LSU before retiring in 2021. He also guided Notre Dame to the College World Series in 2002. Mainieri was lured out of retirement by former South Carolina coach Ray Tanner, then the athletics director, in the summer of 2024. In a statement, Mainieri acknowledged responsibility for the team’s performance, stating, “I take full responsibility for the win/loss record of the baseball program over the 80 games I have served as head coach.” He expressed disappointment that his goal of restoring the program to “greatness with a return to Omaha” had not been achieved within the timeframe he anticipated. “That goal has not materialized as quickly as I would have liked,” he said, adding that his age limited the time he could dedicate to the role. Mainieri praised the university’s leadership for their support but admitted, “I did not get the job done at a level that I expected, or the university deserves.” He reflected on his 40-year coaching career, spanning five institutions, and expressed hope that his impact on young athletes would leave a lasting legacy.#south_carolina #arkansas #paul_mainieri #founders_park #ray_tanner
Paul Mainieri has been dismissed as head coach of the South Carolina baseball team after just over a year in the role, ending his second season with the program. The decision came amid a challenging stretch for the Gamecocks, who suffered their sixth consecutive loss following a 22-6 defeat to Arkansas on Friday. The team’s record stands at 12-12 overall and 0-5 in the Southeastern Conference. Mainieri, 68, had previously led LSU to a College World Series title in 2009 and was lured out of retirement in 2023 to revive South Carolina’s program. Mainieri’s tenure at South Carolina has been marked by a 40-40 record, falling short of the success he achieved at LSU. His departure followed a statement in which he acknowledged responsibility for the team’s performance, stating that his goals to restore the program to national prominence had not been met in the time he had. “I did not get the job done at a level that I expected, or the university deserves,” he said. The decision was reached after a conversation between Mainieri and athletic director Jeremiah Donati, who emphasized that new leadership would better serve the program. The Gamecocks’ struggles have been evident this season, with a 12-5 record after a three-game sweep of Princeton earlier in the year but no wins since. Mainieri’s career record of 1,545-817-8 places him sixth in NCAA history for total wins. His coaching career includes stints at St. Thomas, Air Force, Notre Dame, and LSU, where he guided teams to multiple College World Series appearances, including a national championship in 2009 and runner-up finishes in 2017. Donati praised Mainieri’s contributions, calling him a “Hall of Fame coach” and expressing gratitude for his dedication to student-athletes.#notre_dame #paul_mainieri #south_carolina_baseball #jeremiah_donati #college_world_series
