Paul Mainieri, former LSU baseball coach, addresses Notre Dame vacancy
Paul Mainieri says he’s not looking to coach Notre Dame in 2023.
The Irish job is open after Link Jarrett returned to Florida State to be the new head coach of the Seminoles. Mainieri, 64, retired from coaching in 2021 after a multi-decade career. He spent 15 seasons (2007-21) as LSU’s head coach.
Mainieri was the Notre Dame skipper from 1995-to-2006, taking the Irish to the 2002 College World Series. He was recently in Omaha to support this year’s Notre Dame squad in the CWS.
Auburn AD @AGreeneIV sitting with his old Notre Dame coach, Paul Mainieri, in Omaha.
Mainieri led the last Irish team to make it to the CWS in 2002. pic.twitter.com/QR4pf1YOWC
— Lynden Blake (@LyndenBlake) June 18, 2022
Mainieri, though, does not appear to be interested in a return to South Bend right now. He told Leah Vann of The Advocate that he’s not ready for a return to coaching and is happy living in Baton Rouge and being an ambassador for LSU.
Paul Mainieri about the Notre Dame job, which he confirmed to me he was contacted for:
“I don’t feel ready to get back in it yet and those reasons are still valid. I loved my time at ND, but I love living in BR. I needed a break and I’m happy being an LSU ambassador.” #LSU
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) June 24, 2022