In this episode of the College Baseball Show Coaches Corner, we sit down with Terry Rooney, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at South Carolina Gamecocks, to break down the blueprint for getting South Carolina baseball back to the top of the SEC. Rooney dives into year two of the rebuild, roster construction in the transfer portal era, balancing high school recruiting with veteran talent, and what stood out during a strong fall for the Gamecocks. He also shares insight into SEC pitching philosophy, building a winning culture, working alongside legendary head coach Paul Mainieri, and recruiting stories from his career — including landing Justin Verlander at Old Dominion. A must-watch conversation for college baseball fans, coaches, and anyone tracking the 2026 season.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro & welcoming Terry Rooney

01:30 – Year two at South Carolina & program goals

03:45 – Building a roster in the transfer portal era

06:10 – Evaluating South Carolina’s transfer class impact

08:45 – Power arms, power bats & SEC roster needs

11:00 – Leadership, culture & setting expectations

13:40 – Fall structure & pitcher development philosophy

15:25 – Salute to Troops weekend vs Army, Navy & Air Force

16:55 – Pitching identity, analytics & SEC success

19:10 – Recruiting Justin Verlander: the full story

23:35 – Working with Paul Mainieri & rebuilding elite programs

26:20 – Dream teams, football influences & coaching inspirations

29:20 – Life away from baseball & family

32:05 – Closing thoughts on South Carolina baseball’s future

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