It was not too long ago that LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri was on the hot seat. In fact, seven weeks ago it appeared that this season – and his job – could be lost. The Tigers were No. 11 in the Southeastern Conference and in danger of missing the conference tournament for the second consecutive year. After leading one of the most storied programs in college baseball to a 29-26-1 record in his first season, some questioned whether Mainieri was cut out for the position. Several staff and roster changes in his first offseason did not help quiet those who believed a return to the glory days of the Skip Bertman era was impossible. A year later, Mainieri has the Tigers where many fans expect them to be every June – in the College World Series for the 14th time overall and first time since 2004. And he deserves full credit for the turnaround. Mainieri’s situation early in his tenure at LSU is comparable to Les Miles’ when he first stepped on campus in 2005. Miles went through the same dilemma as Mainieri. Every move the two coaches made – whether good or bad – was compared to their most famous predecessors – Saban and Bertman, respectively. LSU fans have higher standards than most. Mediocrity is not expected – much less tolerated – when it comes to athletics. Mainieri should be praised for the way he has resurrected a program that was on a drastic decline just two years ago. He should also be praised for his diligence in improving the team’s academic standards. This past spring, the baseball team posted a 2.89 cumulative GPA – the highest in LSU baseball history. The team’s academic year GPA of 2.77 was also the highest in the program’s history. The team also did 345 hours of community service in the fall and spring semesters. That was the most by any LSU men’s team. In former coach Smoke Laval’s final season with the Tigers – spring 2006 – the team posted a GPA of a 2.57, the lowest of any athletic program that semester. It is no easy feat to improve athletic excellence without compromising success in the classroom, and Mainieri’s off-field triumphs with his players should be lauded just as much as a trip to Omaha, Neb.
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