Paul Mainieri was lured out of retirement by now-former South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner to lead the Gamecocks’ baseball program after the firing of Mark Kingston.
Mainieri certainly wasn’t lacking the credentials: after leading Notre Dame to the College World Series in 2002, he took LSU to Omaha 5 times — winning a championship in 2009 and finishing as a runner-up in 2017 — while accumulating over 1,500 wins during his career before hanging the cleats up in 2021.
Year 1 of the Mainieri era at South Carolina, though, has been far from successful.
The Gamecocks kicked off a 3-game series with Auburn on Thursday and were embarrassed, 24-2, in 7 innings. That dropped them to 26-24 overall and 5-20 in the SEC.
Mainieri, signed to a 5-year contract, has already committed to returning for 2026. But he’ll be expected to make massive improvements to this team in a hurry. That’s if new AD Jeremiah Donati doesn’t pull the plug after 1 season.
South Carolina was once one of the top programs in the sport and a constant in the postseason. This year, barring a miracle run in the SEC Tournament, it won’t even sniff Regionals. It will be the second time in four years the Gamecocks will have missed the NCAA Tournament.
Here’s reaction to the Gamecocks’ performance under Mainieri in 2025:
And that should do it for the Paul Mainieri era at South Carolina. What an ass whipping by Auburn. t.co/bOVTYhxDJm
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) May 9, 2025Paul Mainieri is going out so sad dude t.co/0YJmXBexii
— Drew (@EdNumber3) May 9, 2025They quit on Paul Mainieri no way you can bring him back.
— Sean (@Quantrelknows) May 9, 2025I will boycott this program until Paul Mainieri is fired. #FirePawPaw pic.twitter.com/t1PKGaivIK
— Dienda (@GamecockDienda) May 9, 2025The program ain’t what it used to be. Omaha might as well be on Mars.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) May 9, 2025Please leave Paul Mainieri in Auburn.
— Jen Amick (@beautynthebeags) May 9, 2025Does Paul Mainieri make it through the weekend? pic.twitter.com/cSOT1HQZq8
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) May 9, 2025Im all for coaches having time to rebuild but how does Paul Mainieri come back from this ?! I think he’s got to go.
— Real USC (@RealUSC) May 9, 2025South Carolina is a disaster. Paul Mainieri was just a head-scratching hire from the start.
— Robbie Faulk (@robbiefaulkOn3) May 9, 2025@JDonati_SC Fire Mainieri tonight. This is ridiculous. Jesus H. Christ.
— Bud Lawson (@LawsonBud24608) May 9, 2025Paul Mainieri getting crushed on social media as South Carolina’s poor season reaches new low Saturday Down South.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Paul Mainieri getting crushed on social media as South Carolina’s poor season reaches new low )
Also on site :
- Trump cuts tariffs on U.K. cars, steel and aluminum but keeps 10% base duty while Britain trims its taxes on 2,500 U.S. products
- Lainey Wilson and Fiancé Step Out in Matching Looks at the ACMs
- ‘Shadow Force’ Review: Two Spies Get Dragged From the Cold in Middling Action Opus