MAINIERI JERSEY TO BE RETIRED AT ST. THOMAS

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Paul Maineiri, the Head Baseball Coach at Louisiana State who started his coaching career at St. Thomas University, will have his jersey retired before STU's 2012 season opener, Tuesday at 6 p.m. vs. Florida Memorial. 

The coach's No. 1 jersey will be retired, the same jersey number he wore at St. Thomas and throughout his coaching career.  Mainieri, the 2009 National Coach of the Year and a member of the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame, will be on hand for the ceremony.

Mainieri coached the St. Thomas baseball team from 1983-88, before moving on to the Air Force Academy, Notre Dame and LSU.  In his six seasons at St. Thomas, Mainieri went 179-121-1 and remains the winningest coach in STU history.  His 2009 LSU team won the College World Series.

Mainieri is an alumnus from St. Thomas having graduated in 1982 with a Master's of Science in Sports Administration.  He also served as Athletic Director and as an adjunct professor while he was the Head Baseball Coach at STU.

The St. Thomas baseball team advanced to the Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament last season and enters 2011 with one of its most talented teams under Head Coach Jorge Perez.