USC

Everything to know about South Carolina baseball coach Paul Mainieri's staff for 2025

Lulu Kesin
Greenville News

COLUMBIA — When athletic director Ray Tanner announced that Paul Mainieri would be the next coach for South Carolina baseball two weeks ago, three assistant coaches were announced on the same day.

Here's a detailed look at the three coaches supporting Mainieri for the 2025 baseball season.

Monte Lee, associate head coach at South Carolina

Monte Lee background:

  • Hometown: Lugoff, South Carolina
  • College: College of Charleston

Lee coached at Clemson from 2016-22. As coach of the Tigers, Lee had a 242-136 overall record including four NCAA Tournament appearances.

His first head coaching gig was at his alma mater, College of Charleston from 2009-15, where he finished with a 276-145 overall record with three NCAA tournament appearances. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Spartanburg Methodist College from 2001-02.

Before being hired by South Carolina again as an assistant in 2022, Lee worked as an assistant coach in Columbia under Ray Tanner from 2003-08.

During the coaching search, Gamecocks players vocalized that Lee should become the next coach and during Mainieri's press conference on June 13, he addressed the situation.

"Obviously there is going to be some disappointment that he didn't get this position ... but I wanted him to be part of our coaching staff. Then we had a conversation that probably lasted two hours or more, and it was amazing. It was a very honest and blunt conversation on both sides ... as the conversation continued to morph I could see that there was a connection there."

Mainieri said it amazed him how aligned his coaching philosophy, views on fielding, hitting and other dynamics were to Lee's.

"I have total respect for everything he's done as interim head coach, he's basically kept the team together," Mainieri said. "He's going to continue to be a tremendous part of Carolina baseball."

Terry Rooney, pitching coach/recruiting coordinator

Terry Rooney background:

  • Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
  • College: Radford

Rooney spent the 2024 season at LSU as the associate director of program development and recruiting. This was his second stint at LSU, the first was under Mainieri from 2007-08 when he worked as pitching coach/recruiting for two seasons.

Rooney first worked with Mainieri at Notre Dame as the pitching coach from 2004-06.

He head coach at UCF where he had 261 victories over eight seasons (2009-16).

Terry Rooney full coaching history:

  • George Washington (1997)
  • James Madison (1998-99)
  • Assistant at Old Dominion (2001-02)
  • Assistant coach at Stetson (2002-03)
  • Pitching coach at Notre Dame (2004-06)
  • Pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at LSU (2007-08)
  • Head coach at UCF (2009-2016)
  • Associate head coach/pitching coach at Alabama (2016)
  • Pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Houston (2017-21)
  • Pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Purdue (2022-23)
  • Associate director of program development and recruiting (2024)

John Hendry, assistant coach

John Hendry background:

  • Hometown: Park Ridge, Illinois
  • College: Indianapolis

Hendry spent the last three seasons as Virginia’s director of player development. During his time at UVA, the Cavaliers had back-to-back College World Series appearances. Hendry wasn't present at Mainieri's press conference because Virginia was in the 2024 CWS on June 14. His dad Jim is a special assistant for New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, and is a former general manager of the Chicago Cubs.

MAINIERI:New South Carolina baseball coach Paul Mainieri doesn't have 3-year plan. He wants to win now

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin