USC dismisses Lee, Rooney, Hendry

Monte Lee talks with the media after an April 7 loss to College
 of Charleston.(Palmetto State Baseball photo)

John Whittle of Gamecock247.com (formerly The BigSpur.com) reports South Carolina's administration has informed interim head coach Monte Lee, pitching coach Terry Rooney and assistant coach John Hendry that they will not be returning to the program.

Director of operations and player development Chris Gordon, strength and conditioning coach Billy Anderson and special assistant coach Stuart Lake will remain with the program until a new head coach is hired, Whittle reports.

Lee was named interim head coach after Paul Mainieri was jettisoned March 21 and coached the final 34 games. Lee expressed interest in the role on a permanent basis, but had a 10-24 record as interim coach, including 13 straight losses to end the season. He was 7-20 against SEC competition, including a loss to Tennessee in the conference tournament.

Lake, who has a role with the Gamecock Club, was serving as analyst for USC's radio broadcasts until he moved to the dugout after Mainieri's departure.

Lee was retained by Mainieri .from the staff of former head coach Mark Kingston. He previously served as an assistant at USC before becoming head coach at College of Charleston and later, Clemson.

Lee was listed as USC's hitting coach, but media reports indicated he was not in control. In addition, Mainieri replaced Lee with Rooney as primary in-state recruiter and Carolina has struggled to bring in high school talent.

USC had a school-worst 6.41 staff earned-run average in  2025. The ERA improved this season, but the offense ranked at or near the bottom of the SEC in many categories.‌ For instance, USC's overall batting average of .235 was 18 points worse than the next-closest team. Carolina was last in runs scored (276) by 64 runs, and on-base percentage (.325) by 45 points. The Gamecocks hit .203 in SEC play.

Hendry came to USC after serving in an off-field role at Virginia.
Whittle's story