Mainieri is Officially OUT!!!

[Fried Chicken]

Statements have been released. Agreed to part ways this morning. I’m sure he’ll get his $5M buyout. Not bad for 80 games…

Should fire Ray Tanner as well, but at least we got rid of Mainieri.

Sounds like there were some pretty ugly incidents behind the scenes as well. It was obvious the team quit on him. Took longer than it should’ve but I think the fanbase was pretty tired of Donati too. His name was coming up as much as Mainieri’s on social media last night.

 

[KingWard]

Ray Tanner will always have his two championships. I certainly wouldn't extend any contract with him.

 

[Dabo's Weenie]

Yeah, his picture disappeared from the coaching staff on the site.

 

[KingWard]

Monty Lee in as interim head coach. There is also a report that the pitching coach is leaving as well, but that is not confirmed.

 

[Fried Chicken]

We’ll be a better team under Lee. Won’t be good, but better. Some former players parents were commenting on some Mainieri issues from last season. Don’t think many are going to have anything good to say about his tenure here.

What a terrible idea to bring him in, basically have no relationships with the players and think that could work. We wasted 2 years and dug the hole even deeper for the next guy. Our program was likely set back 4 years from where Kingston left it. Incredible display of incompetence from our leadership. More heads should be rolling for this one….but they won’t.

 

[Dabo's Weenie]

We’ll be a better team under Lee. Won’t be good, but better. Some former players parents were commenting on some Mainieri issues from last season. Don’t think many are going to have anything good to say about his tenure here.

What a terrible idea to bring him in, basically have no relationships with the players and think that could work. We wasted 2 years and dug the hole even deeper for the next guy. Our program was likely set back 4 years from where Kingston left it. Incredible display of incompetence from our leadership. More heads should be rolling for this one….but they won’t.

It's your fault.

How many meals have you missed because you gave so much for "NIL" (payroll) that you didn't have enough for food?

None?

Like I said, it's your fault.

 

[Fried Chicken]

It's your fault.

How many meals have you missed because you gave so much for "NIL" (payroll) that you didn't have enough for food?

None?

Like I said, it's your fault.

Oh, let the record show…I will never give another dime to the NIL fund.

One of the reasons I don’t expect much anymore.

 

[bayrooster]

Monty Lee in as interim head coach. There is also a report that the pitching coach is leaving as well, but that is not confirmed.

If he came on board with Mainieri I'd be fine with him going, even though pitching was the least of our problems.

 

[Fried Chicken]

If he came on board with Mainieri I'd be fine with him going, even though pitching was the least of our problems.

Reports right now are that Rooney is still the pitching coach. But a lot of noise about how that must change. Maybe we’re just waiting on Monte Lee to fire him? It has to happen for any chance to improve this season.

Based on what I am reading it’s likely to happen.

 

[Dabo's Weenie]

Reports right now are that Rooney is still the pitching coach. But a lot of noise about how that must change. Maybe we’re just waiting on Monte Lee to fire him? It has to happen for any chance to improve this season.

Based on what I am reading it’s likely to happen.

So, no pitching coach is better than Rooney, or do they already have someone on the hook?

 

[Bubba Fett]

We’ll be a better team under Lee. Won’t be good, but better. Some former players parents were commenting on some Mainieri issues from last season. Don’t think many are going to have anything good to say about his tenure here.

What a terrible idea to bring him in, basically have no relationships with the players and think that could work. We wasted 2 years and dug the hole even deeper for the next guy. Our program was likely set back 4 years from where Kingston left it. Incredible display of incompetence from our leadership. More heads should be rolling for this one….but they won’t.

The hole is a giant smoking crater. How do we get a good coach? And if we do, how does he get good players?

 

[StickyBandit]

I don’t like seeing anyone get fired, but this is a results oriented business and the things that came out after last season were pretty shocking. Hope PM enjoys retirement, and the next coach returns us back to prominence!

 

[Fried Chicken]

The hole is a giant smoking crater. How do we get a good coach? And if we do, how does he get good players?

We SHOULD still be able to hire a good coach. I’m sure we’ll reach out to Schnall at Coastal. He just went to the CWS Finals last season. I know they have a solid program, but our job is still an attractive one. Our conference provides better resources. The good thing is there is no more being in Ray Tanner’s shadow. Someone can come in here and win big and be celebrated as resurrecting Gamecocks Baseball.

With the way College Sports are now, if we hire the right coach, we should see immediate impact in year 1 with a possible complete turnaround in Year 2. A guy like Schnall, for example, could pretty much bring his entire roster over if we’re willing to make it happen. Most of them would leave Coastal anyway.

I wouldn’t be shocked for us to do what it takes to get him. We have to nail this hire. Whatever we do, Ray Tanner shouldn’t be allowed within 500 Yards of the candidates we interview or the committee that’s searching. Let’s take his $1.5M annually and add it to the payroll to get this thing right, and send Tanner’s a$$ into retirement as well.

 

[Blues man]

Thank you Arkansas

 

[Fried Chicken]

So, no pitching coach is better than Rooney, or do they already have someone on the hook?

We have other assistants behind the scenes that would fill the void. Have to think anything is better than Rooney. Stuart Lake is a possible candidate to be that guy if we make the change. But staying with Rooney makes no sense.

 

[Forkcock]

 

[CreekSnake]

I’m with you.Even though a change was much needed I wish Manieri well.I was a HS football coach and when you win there’s no better job but when you lose life is miserable.
That said time to look forward .Landon Powell?

 

[Fried Chicken]

I’m with you.Even though a change was much needed I wish Manieri well.I was a HS football coach and when you win there’s no better job but when you lose life is miserable.
That said time to look forward .Landon Powell?

I still think there are some home run guys we have to pursue first. Powell is not that guy. Way too risky and too many unknowns. I’d keep him in mind if the first 2-3 guys say “no”. There are proven winners at the major college baseball level that will no doubt have interest in our job. Whether they are willing to leave to come here??? We have to find that out.

Powell will 100% be contacted and interviewed if he has interest. Would love a scenario where we hire a guy like Schnall from Coastal, which would be impressive, and Powell could come on as an assistant if he wants to advance in the coaching ranks.

 

[KingWard]

If he came on board with Mainieri I'd be fine with him going, even though pitching was the least of our problems.

He did. It seemed like a pretty big problem last night and on a few other recent occasions. But for certain, the problems go way beyond there. This is an awful place for a program that approached legacy status to be in.

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

Sounds like there were some pretty ugly incidents behind the scenes as well.

I'd like to know more.

Whatever we do, Ray Tanner shouldn’t be allowed within 500 Yards of the candidates we interview or the committee that’s searching. Let’s take his $1.5M annually and add it to the payroll to get this thing right, and send Tanner’s a$$ into retirement as well.

This is a must.

 

[sclawman77]

Pay me $2M to get lost for getting run ruled in consecutive conference games. I can match that.

 

[bayrooster]

I'd like to know more.

This is a must.

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

Still mad at Denise Richards for that movie. She didn't participate in the shower scene.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Why do these contracts have such large buyouts but they're not connected to performance?

Seems obvious they should be tiered based on results.

 

[Cybercock]

Monty Lee in as interim head coach. There is also a report that the pitching coach is leaving as well, but that is not confirmed.

Bring back Matt Williams. We fired him and he only to become national assistant coach of the year at Coastal

 

[Evilchicken]

**** Donati. **** Tanner. **** Marinara.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

 

[RL09]

We’ll be a better team under Lee. Won’t be good, but better. Some former players parents were commenting on some Mainieri issues from last season. Don’t think many are going to have anything good to say about his tenure here.

What a terrible idea to bring him in, basically have no relationships with the players and think that could work. We wasted 2 years and dug the hole even deeper for the next guy. Our program was likely set back 4 years from where Kingston left it. Incredible display of incompetence from our leadership. More heads should be rolling for this one….but they won’t.

As long as Donati is not part of this criticism, I agree 100%. I think Donati has a done a terrific job so far and I am really looking forward to observing who he hires as the next hc for baseball, go Gamecocks!

 

[3USC1801]

I wonder if Donati will have the money to increase NIL for the next coach? In order to get back to a semblance of respectability, I would think he’d have to increase it. If he does, it also gives a new hire more incentive to come to USC.

 

[atl-cock]

Would Mainieri still have a job if the Friday night loss was similar to the Saturday one?

It does appear that the parting of ways looks congenial externally. And that's good. As others have stated, wish Mainieri well and move on.

It also appears that the only good staffing action Tanner took was retaining Staley, which was a no-brainer.

Agreed, Tanner should not be involved in any more hiring decisions. Let him shake hands as part of fund-raising, and/or work on behind-the-scenes athletics administration duties.

 

[USCALUMNI]

I would like to see Landon Powell get a shot. GO COCKS

USCALUMNI

 

[atl-cock]

We’ll be a better team under Lee. Won’t be good, but better. Some former players parents were commenting on some Mainieri issues from last season. Don’t think many are going to have anything good to say about his tenure here.

What a terrible idea to bring him in, basically have no relationships with the players and think that could work. We wasted 2 years and dug the hole even deeper for the next guy. Our program was likely set back 4 years from where Kingston left it. Incredible display of incompetence from our leadership. More heads should be rolling for this one….but they won’t.

But I imagine these former players/parents will be advised not to say anything bad either.

 

[atl-cock]

Last night, I looked at the YouTube uploads of Mainieri's last post-game press conference and Lee's first. A most striking difference. To me, PM looked utterly defeated (and rightly so). He may very well have been relieved to have had the Saturday meeting with Donati.

I like Lee's attitude. I have (hopefully not premature) confidence that a minimum, the balance of the 2026 season will be respectable at least compared to the first half of the season. Pretty much what Fried Chicken stated.

 

[atl-cock]

I still think there are some home run guys we have to pursue first. Powell is not that guy. Way too risky and too many unknowns. I’d keep him in mind if the first 2-3 guys say “no”. There are proven winners at the major college baseball level that will no doubt have interest in our job. Whether they are willing to leave to come here??? We have to find that out.

Powell will 100% be contacted and interviewed if he has interest. Would love a scenario where we hire a guy like Schnall from Coastal, which would be impressive, and Powell could come on as an assistant if he wants to advance in the coaching ranks.

If Powell has any interest in moving to D-I, I could see it as something like what was intended for Holbrook, with better results, of course.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Last night, I looked at the YouTube uploads of Mainieri's last post-game press conference and Lee's first. A most striking difference. To me, PM looked utterly defeated (and rightly so). He may very well have been relieved to have had the Saturday meeting with Donati.

I like Lee's attitude. I have (hopefully not premature) confidence that a minimum, the balance of the 2026 season will be respectable at least compared to the first half of the season. Pretty much what Fried Chicken stated.

I don't know if it's true, but it was reported that Lee would put together hitting plans for each game that Mainieri would basically ignore and just tell hitters to swing away.

IF that's accurate, there could be a significant difference in performance.