Paul Mainieri is out as baseball coach at South Carolina, less than halfway through his second season with the Gamecocks.
Mainieri and athletic director Jeremiah Donati issued a joint statement on Saturday regarding the decision.
“After a conversation this morning with Coach Mainieri, we agreed that it would be in the best interest of the program that we part ways at this time,” Donati said. “I appreciate everything Paul has poured into our student-athletes and our program, not just at South Carolina, but throughout his career. He is a Hall of Fame coach and a world-class individual, and we wish him and his family all the best.”
Mainieri’s final game came Friday when the Razorbacks routed South Carolina, 22-6. With interim head coach Monte Lee in charge on Saturday, the Gamecocks lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Arkansas.
South Carolina is 12-12 (0-7 Southeastern Conference) with 32 games remaining before the SEC conference tournament. Manieri leaves the Gamecocks with a 40-40 overall record and a 6-28 SEC mark at the school.
Mainieri, 68, played one season of pro baseball after college before turning to coaching. He was the head coach at Biscayne Bay (now St. Thomas) in Florida for six seasons (1983-88), followed by Air Force (1989-94), Notre Dame (1995-2006), LSU (2007-21) and South Carolina.
Mainieri led Notre Dame to the College World Series in 2002, then took LSU to the series five times. The Tigers won the College World Series title in 2009 as he was named National Coach of the Year. His overall record is 1,545-817-8 (.654).
He had been retired for three years when South Carolina contacted Mainieri about the job.
“My goal was to work with young people again and restore the South Carolina program to greatness with a return to Omaha (for the World Series),” he said. “My staff and I have worked diligently in an attempt to accomplish that goal. Unfortunately, that goal has not materialized as quickly as I would have liked and will take more time than I had anticipated, and that is time that I just don’t have at my age.”
“As I go into retirement again (and for the final time), I reflect on how fortunate I have been to do what I Iove most – coaching college baseball and trying to impact young lives – for more than 40 years at five wonderful institutions,” he continued. “The young men that I have had the honor to coach will always be foremost in my thoughts. It is my hope that their success in life and contributions to society will be my lasting legacy.”
–Field Level Media
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