Former Notre Dame, LSU head coach Paul Mainieri opts not to make coaching return

Notre Dame is fresh off a historic College World Series appearance but is undergoing a coaching search to replace Link Jarrett. He left the program to return home to his alma mater, Florida State. To replace Jarrett, the Fighting Irish were hoping to bring a familiar face back to South Bend with Paul Mainieri.

However, the former Notre Dame and LSU head coach is not likely to take the job.

According to Tyler Horka of On3’s BlueandGold.com, Mainieri has “decided to stay retired” and return to coaching after leaving the LSU program last season. One of the most decorated coaches in the history of college baseball, over a third of Mainieri’s career wins came at Notre Dame. He led the program to the 2002 College World Series, winning one game.

Mainieri still lives in Baton Rouge, where he played his college baseball. Horka says the former head coach serves as an LSU Athletics Ambassador. He won a national championship with the Tigers in 2009 and has over 1,500 wins. There’s not much the head coach would have to prove.

While Notre Dame may have wanted him to return to their dugout, Mainieri will continue to enjoy retirement.

Link Jarrett explains how Notre Dame can carry momentum into next season

Jarrett may not be with the Notre Dame program next season but a lot can still carry over into next season. Whoever takes over for the Fighting Irish will be coming off a College World Series, one where they won a game, and some momentum.

After the loss to Texas A&M, Jarrett explained how Notre Dame can continue their success into next season. He said although they were short next season, things are “trending in the right direction.”

“So that hunger and the understanding of how critical every play is — and they’re not always plays that you script, but how critical the execution on some things that come up that are rare at times, some of the cut-offs and funky things that happen in the game,” Jarrett said. “It’s hard if you’re in the right spot and prepare. So the lessons stand out more here. It stood out last year. We were capable of winning it last night. We didn’t. Were we capable of winning it this year? Not the way we played the last two ball games, but the first game, 100 percent. That was trending in the right direction.”