After a historically brutal season, the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team announced that it will stick with veteran head coach Paul Maineri. Earlier this month, Mainieri himself emphatically shut down rumors by saying “I’m not going anywhere." And while this decision may not sit well with fans who are frustrated, it comes as no surprise given the staggering cost of change. Mainieri is under a five-year, $1.3 million per year contract with South Carolina, with a $5.2 million buyout if the university ends his contract early.
2025 Recap
The 2025 season for the Gamecocks was nothing short of a disaster on the field, finishing roughly .500 overall (28-29) but a 6-24 SEC record, the worst conference record in school history. Pitching was exceptionally abysmal with a 6.41 ERA, the highest ever in program history. The season ended abruptly with an 11-3 loss to Florida in the first round of the SEC Tournament, with Gamecock fans witnessing some of the worst baseball in decades from a program that had previously been the standard in SEC baseball.
Mainieri publicly admitted that he "underestimated the strength of the conference." Injuries to key players compounded the problems for the Gamecocks, but ultimately the team was outmatched week after week. With 29 losses on the season (including non-SEC games) the team ended one of the worst years since the 1960s.
Fan Reactions
Unsurprisingly, the Gamecock fanbase is frustrated. On social media and message boards, reactions ranged from frustrated to defiant.
While few and far between, there are a few select fans that are urging patience, saying "let's give him time to rebuild" and agreeing that a buyout will cripple the program's finances. In short, fans are angry, yet they are also anxious for a change, whatever that may be.
Coaching Staff and Future
All that being said, despite the on-field failures and struggles with the team, no coach is going to lose his job this offseason. According to university contacts, Mainieri, who turns 68 this summer, will return next season. In interviews, he refused to even consider any staff changes as well, stating that his pitching coach "Terry Rooney is here to stay. He isn't going anywhere."
Mainieri told the local media that he is "totally committed to getting this program back on track," and that the administration is giving him time to do so. Behind the scenes, new Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati acknowledged that anything is on the table, but for now even debating Mainieri's contract would be "malpractice" given the costs. One reason being cited is the coach's historic resume, urging fans to show patience, even if they don't agree.
Mainieri's Track Record
It is worth mentioning why South Carolina even hired the former championship coach last summer. Mainieri was an active leader in Division I wins with 1,505, has six College World Series appearances (including an NCAA title in 2009 and 2017 runner-up), four SEC Championships, six SEC Tournament titles, and multiple Coach of the Year accolades.
He was a Hall-of-Fame coach who walked away from LSU in 2021 due to health issues. However, with those health issues seemingly resolved, former AD Ray Tanner persuaded Mainieri to take over a Gamecocks program that won 37 games in 2024 but seemed to lack direction going forward. In his introductory press conference, Mainieri expressed that South Carolina boasted similar resources and history as his former LSU job, and that's why he took the position. However, recently he openly admitted that the SEC "has gotten a lot better," but maintained optimism about the team going forward.
Buyout Complexity
Parting ways with Mainieri would come with a hefty pricetag, however. His five-year deal extends through 2029 and pays $1.3 million a year. If South Carolina fires him now, the full $5.2 million buyout is owed. By contrast, if Mainieri leaves for another job, he will have to pay that sum back to South Carolina. Even further, firing the head coach could also trigger buyouts for his assistant coaches. For example, hitting coach Monte Lee is owed approximately $1.1 million a pitching coach Terry Rooney roughly $850,000.
Adding insult to injury, the looming NCAA settlement would require South Carolina to distribute about $20.5 million per year to athletes, further straining athletic budgets.
Looking Ahead: Roster Moves and Recruiting
Mainieri has already hinted towards a busy offseason in the transfer portal and recruiting circuit. On the June 2 portal opening date, he said "we're going to need a lot of players" to restore depth. Recent reports have indicated the Gamecock staff targeting JUCO arms and hitters, aiming to replace injuries and underperformance issues.
With the MLB Draft also looming, South Carolina will look to keep key returners, while resetting the roster via portal and signings. Fans will be watching what happens during the offseason.
The Road Ahead
South Carolina is officially locked in with Mainieri at the helm for 2026. Going forward, the focus will be on recruiting, roster turnover, and improvement on the field. Whether that formula is the right one and will work for the Gamecocks remains to be seen. But as Mainieri said himself, "the future is bright for our program."