Mark Kingston Fired as South Carolina Baseball Coach After Seven Seasons

Mark Kingston has been dismissed from his position of head coach of the University of South Carolina's baseball team after seven seasons. The decision follows the Gamecocks' exit from the NCAA Tournament in the Raleigh Regional, where they lost to James Madison University.

Kingston's tenure at South Carolina was marked by mixed results. He compiled an overall record of 217-155 and an SEC record of 83-96. Despite leading the Gamecocks to four NCAA tournament appearances and two super regionals, the team never reached the College World Series under his leadership.

The 2024 season ended on a disappointing note for the Gamecocks, who finished with a 37-25 overall record and a 13-17 mark in SEC play. The team struggled with consistency, particularly in pitching and defense, and lost their final six regular season games.

Kingston's firing comes as his contract buyout dropped from $800,000 to $400,000, effective June 1. This financial consideration likely influenced the timing of the decision. Athletic Director Ray Tanner, who has now overseen the hiring of three baseball coaches, will lead the search for Kingston's replacement.

Monte Lee, the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, will serve interim head coach. Lee has previous head coaching experience at Clemson, where he spent seven seasons before joining South Carolina.

Kingston's tenure began promisingly in 2018, with the team finishing third in the SEC East and coming close to making the College World Series. However, subsequent seasons saw mixed results, including a 28-28 record in 2019 and a losing record in 2022, the first for the program since 1996.

Kingston expressed his disappointment in a post-game interview, stating, "It was a good season, I don't think anytime you make the NCAA tournament out of the SEC you can call it a failure... Clearly that is very disappointing." He also highlighted his disappointment for the players, adding, "I'm disappointed for those kids that gave it everything they had... a good season but always looking to have a great season."

The search for a new head coach will be pivotal for the Gamecocks, who have a rich baseball history including 35 NCAA Regional appearances and two national championships in 2010 and 2011. Potential candidates for the position include Landon Powell, Tom Walter, Dan McDonnell, and Monte Lee.

As South Carolina looks to the future, the program's next leader will be tasked with meeting high expectations and restoring the team to national prominence. The upcoming offseason will be a critical time for the Gamecocks as they face this transition.

Key Takeaways

• Mark Kingston fired as South Carolina baseball coach after 7 seasons.
• Kingston's record: 217-155 overall, 83-96 in SEC, 4 NCAA appearances.
• 2024 season ended with 37-25 record, 13-17 in SEC, and 6-game losing streak.
• Monte Lee named interim head coach; search for new coach begins.
• Next coach must restore program to national prominence.