By just about any measure, Mainieri's stint in South Bend was a rousing success. Under his stewardship, ND surpassed the 40-win mark 11 times, captured five consecutive Big East Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tourney on nine occasions.

The 48-year old skipper also saw his 2001 team achieve a number 1 ranking  while the following year Mainieri hit the jackpot with a trip to the College World Series.

With Mainieri leading the way, ND became a perennial top 25 team that sent a whopping total of 47 players onto the pros.

About the only knock that can be leveled against Mainieri is that he didn't advance to more Super Regionals. Though he did reach six straight Regional finals, a few more trips even deeper into the Tournament would have transformed  him into an almost cult-like figure.

But there's no denying that on balance, Mainieri did himself and the University proud.

Yes, it's disappointing that he's decided to leave. He had become fixture at ND and you knew that as long as Mainieri was around, the program was in very good hands.

A void has been created that won't be easy to fill. A sense of uncertainty currently surrounds the program. A understandable fear of the unknown looms.

It's now incumbent on athletic director Kevin White to chose a dynamic and energetic replacement for Mainieri. He must find a successor who will keep the program moving forward and not allow it to stagnate or regress.

Just as Mainieri took the torch from the charismatic Pat Murphy and lifted the Irish to an even higher level, so must his successor build on Mainieri's foundation.  

To use a baseball analogy, the man who follows Mainieri must be sure to move the runners along. He can't afford to leave them stranded at the base they already occupy.

So White is confronted with a daunting challenge. At this critical juncture, he must chose wisely and correctly. A miscalculation by the A.D. could do significant damage to the program.

And let's face it, White's track record for picking the right man isn't exactly stellar. Let's review.

When asked to select a head coach in the past, White has whiffed on more than his share. He unquestionably guessed wrong when it came to George O'Leary and Ty Willingham.

Oh sure, he made an inspired decision to bring in Charlie Weis and he deserves credit for that but remember one thing. Had his hand not been forced by some perceptive administrators, White would have stayed with Willingham and who knows what would be the state of Irish football today.

White's choice of hoop coach Mike Brey isn't looking all the great either. After a promising three-year start, Brey has basically flamed out since then. Unless something unforeseen happens, 2006-7 will mark the fourth straight year the Irish have missed out on the NCAA Tournament. And that should be a fireable offense.

Now this reporter does think that White scored big when he hired Jeff Jackson to be his hockey coach but the point remains. Of his five major coaching hires to date, it looks like only two, Weis and Jackson, will prove to be long term winners. That's hardly a good ratio.

It could be said that White has blacked out far too often when it comes to making personnel decisions. 

Hence, it's imperative that he get it right when tabbing the new baseball coach. White needs its for his reputation and the program needs it for its well being. White simply can't afford to strikeout on this one!

White is reputed to have a short list for all the major sports should an opening at ND develop. It would be interesting to see who's included on the baseball ledger.

One name being bandied about extensively is Virginia coach Brian O'Connor and that's understandable. O'Connor has Irish ties having served as a Mainieri lieutenant for a number of years. 

But according to the reports posted within the last few days, O'Connor has indicated a preference to stay with the Cavaliers. Whether that's the truth or merely a smokescreen remains to be seen. 

But regardless of O'Connor's availability, White shouldn't feel the need to rush to judgment. He should thoroughly canvass the landscape to see what's out there. In this case, haste could certainly make waste.

Though O'Connor is a viable candidate, it's this reporter's opinion that a more high-profile and accomplished coach can be had if White takes his time and goes through an extensive vetting process.

There's nothing wrong with taking a little extra time and being a bit overcautious if you eventually land the real deal. Better to wait and be right rather than hurry and be wrong.

Fortunately, White is getting sage input from Mainieri as to who the outgoing Irish coach feels would be the best fit into the Notre Dame culture.

Given Mainieri's intimate knowledge as to what it takes to win in South Bend, White would be a fool not to give serious weight to any recommendations the new LSU head man would care to make.

But ultimately, the decision will be White's. He's the one in the batter's box. The burden of responsibility is squarely on the A.D.'s shoulders.

And when he finally does arrive at a decision, let's hope he goes deep and hits a homer or at the very least, crashes a booming double into the gap.