According to multiple sources, South Carolina is reportedly eyeing former LSU coach, Paul Mainieri, as their next head coach. While there is no confirmation of a deal being in place just yet, Mainieri's impressive track record and experience make him a strong candidate for the position.

Mainieri, who retired as the Tigers coach after the 2021 season, brings with him an illustrious coaching career spanning 39 seasons at LSU, Notre Dame, Air Force, and St. Thomas (Fla.). With 1,505 wins, he currently ranks eighth all-time in wins among college baseball coaches. His tenure at LSU saw him win the national championship in 2009 and secure a runner-up finish in 2017. In 2009, Mainieri was also named Baseball America Coach of the Year.

Sources indicate that Mainieri initially retired due to health issues, including migraine headaches in 2021. However, he has remained involved in coaching searches, being part of the processes at Notre Dame in 2022 and Miami in 2023, ultimately choosing not to pursue those opportunities.

If Mainieri were to accept the position at South Carolina, it would mark his return to coaching after three seasons away. The appointment would be particularly interesting as he would be working under Ray Tanner, the university's athletic director whom Mainieri used to compete against in the SEC. Tanner led the Gamecocks to back-to-back national titles in 2010 and 2011, turning them into one of the premier programs in college baseball during his tenure as head coach.

Since Tanner's shift to athletic director in 2012, South Carolina's baseball program has not been able to maintain the same level of success. Under Chad Holbrook and then Mark Kingston, the Gamecocks have slipped into the middle of the SEC pack, falling short of reaching the College World Series in the past 12 years.

Mainieri would be tasked with reviving the program and bringing it back to its former glory. However, he will face significant challenges in navigating the transfer portal, adapting to the new NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules, as well as the potential restructuring of college baseball following the settlement of House v. NCAA.

Despite these hurdles, Mainieri has proven to be adaptable throughout his career, successfully coaching at different types of institutions. Leading South Carolina in 2025 would undoubtedly require Mainieri's unparalleled experience and expertise to overcome the obstacles and restore the Gamecocks' status as one of the top programs in college baseball.