Ray Tanner is resigning from his role as athletic director at South Carolina, according to a statement released by the university on Friday. He conveyed his decision during a meeting with the Board of Trustees, as reported by the Associated Press.
A national search for his replacement will commence at the conclusion of the Fall semester, with Tanner remaining in his position until a successor is appointed. Following this transition, he will assume an emeritus role within the department, where he will serve as a senior advisor to the university president, focusing on fundraising efforts and community relations.
In his statement, Tanner expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Gamecocks program.
“I’m humbled and honored that I have had the great fortune to be a part of this wonderful university and that will continue. For a while now, I have thought there’s going to come a time for Carolina to get a new athletics director, and the president and I have had those conversations. There was interest for me to remain at the university. I agreed to stay in a new role because of my passion for this university, this city and this state.”
Prior to his appointment as athletic director, Tanner served as the baseball coach for the Gamecocks, during which he led the team to multiple College World Series appearances. He accumulated a record of 738 wins and 316 losses at South Carolina, achieving a .700 winning percentage that places him third all-time among SEC coaches. Under his leadership, the baseball program recorded 22 straight postseason victories and secured 12 consecutive wins in the College World Series from 2010 to 2012.
He took on the role of Athletic Director in 2012, during which he oversaw significant athletic achievements for the university. His tenure saw the Lady Gamecocks, under head coach Dawn Staley, rise to prominence in women’s basketball, securing championships in 2017, 2022, and 2024, and finishing the 2024 season undefeated.
Tanner also facilitated advancements within the Gamecocks’ athletic department, including navigating the university into the NIL era, executing facility enhancements, and signing a 10-year partnership with Under Armour in 2016.
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