Paul Mainieri

Sport: Baseball

Induction Year: 2023

University: LSUUniversity of New Orleans

A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Mainieri retired after winning 1,505 games in 39 seasons as a college baseball coach, including 641 at LSU and the 2009 College World Series championship. … Before what would be his final stop at LSU, he coached at St. Thomas College, Air Force and Notre Dame. Mainieri had his most success at LSU and Notre Dame, where he won 69.3% and 71.4% of his games, respectively. … Was the winningest active coach in the NCAA ranks when he retired with an overall record of 1,505-775-8 for a winning percentage of 65.9%. … The 1,505 wins put him seventh all-time among all NCAA Division I baseball coaches. … During 15 seasons at LSU, he was 641-283-3 before stepping away because of recurring neck issues. … Guided his team to the 2009 College World Series title as the Tigers topped Texas, two games to one, in the championship series. … In his final 26 full seasons as a head coach at Notre Dame and LSU (not counting the 2020 COVID-shortened season), his teams won 40 games a total of 21 times. … When he reached the 1,500-win milestone late in the 2021 season, Mainieri became the fifth coach to win at least 1,500 games and a national championship, joining Augie Garrido, Gene Stephenson, Jim Morris and Mark Marquess. … During his time at LSU, where he played as a freshman in 1976, Mainieri’s teams won a CWS title, five NCAA super regionals, nine NCAA regionals, four Southeastern Conference regular-season titles, six SEC tournament titles and six SEC Western Division crowns. … He has the third-highest career winning percentage in SEC history, trailing only Skip Bertman (870-330-3, .724) and Ray Tanner (738-316, .700). … Mainieri coached 13 first-team All-Americans at LSU and as of September 2022, 25 Tigers have reached the major leagues with 88 players being selected in the MLB draft during his tenure from 2007-21. … A four-time National Coach of the Year, Mainieri and his father, legendary Miami-Dade North Community College coach Demie Mainieri, are the only father-son duo in the ABCA Hall of Fame. … Born 8-29-1957 in Morgantown, W.Va.