Mainieri stepping down at USC

Paul Mainieri leaves USC with a 40-40
record midway through year 2. (USC photo)

South Carolina has parted ways with baseball coach Paul Mainieri slightly less that halfway through his second season. The Gamecocks were 12-11, had lost six straight game and were run-ruled by No. 4 Arkansas, 22-4, Friday night.

Associated head coach Monte Lee will serve as interim head coach. There was no immediate word on any other staff changes.

Including a 28-29 record in his first year, Mainieri was 40-40 overall and 6-29 against SEC competition.

"Jeremiah Donati and I have agreed that the baseball program will be better served with new leadership," Mainieri said ina statement released by the school. "I take full responsibility for the win/loss record of the baseball program over the 80 games I have served as head coach.

"When Ray Tanner invited me to come out of three years of retirement to coach again, my goal was to work with young people again and restore the South Carolina program to greatness with a return to Omaha," 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."

USC athletic director Jeremiah Donati said "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. I appreciate everything Paul has poured into our student-athletes and our program, not just at South Carolina, but throughout his career."

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My take: This needed to happen, and now instead of later. Just from watching games and with no "insider" contacts, the players did not appear to have bought in to whatever Mainieri was trying to sell. 

Sure, there were injuries, but all teams deal with that. More portal additions missed instead of hit.

There's a segment of the USC fan base that wants Lee gone, too. He'll get a chance to show he can make enough changes to right things and avoid a historically bad season.

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Some names

Again, my take, and in no particular order. I'm sure just about every coach who's had a string of NCAA Tournament appearances will come up on some message board

* Kevin Schnall, Coastal Carolina  - But is the USC job any better that the Coastal job at this point?

* Landon Powell, North Greenville - Can the school take a chance on a very, very successful Division II coach, even if he's a Gamecock legend?

* Mike McGuire, Winthrop - would the school gamble on a former player?

* Mark Calvi, South Alabama head coach; Skylar Meade, Troy head coach; Justin Parker, Mississippi State pitching coach - All are former USC assistants. Has any one the three made enough of a splash to impress a search committee?

* Robert Woodard, Charlotte - The husband of USC's softball coach. Such a hire would be novel, but would it pay off?

* Adrian Morales, Nova Southeastern - He was one of the firebrands for 2010 national championship team and did well on the junior college level. But, his resume at four-year schools is thin.

* Nolan Belcher, North Georgia - Another ex-player, but again there's not much of a resume yet.

* Chris Lemonis - A Citadel product who won a national championship at Mississippi State.

* Dan McDonnell, Louisville - Another Citadel player

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Who do you want? Leave a name in comment on this post