COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina is targeting former LSU coach Paul Mainieri to be the head of their next baseball coach, according to a report.
Baseball America cited "multiple sources" Monday as saying that the Gamecocks have zeroed in on Mainieri to lead the program. The report said no deal was in place, however.
It's unclear if this news is related, but the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees, which would have to approve any new hiring of a coach, has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday at 4 p.m. The one agenda item is for "approval of athletics employment contracts."
Mainieiri last coached in 2021 when he retired after 15 years at LSU citing health issues. Mainieiri led LSU to a national championship in 2009 and a runner up finish in 2017.
During his tenure in Baton Rouge, he also won four SEC championships and six conference tournament titles. The 66-year-old Mainairi has won 1,501 games in nearly 40 years as a head coach.
On June 3, the Gamecocks fired Mark Kingston as coach after seven years. Kingston was hired in 2017 taking over to Chad Holbrook and went 217-155 overall but with a losing record in SEC play at 83-96. During his run, USC went to the postseason four times, including two trips to the Super Regionals, which is essentially the Sweet Sixteen of college baseball. However, the team never got to the College World Series in Omaha.
Monte Lee is currently serving as interim head coach.
The Gamecocks have been to 11 College World Series in program history and have advanced passed the regional stage 19 times