May 6, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Athletics Department and Equestrian Head Coach Boo Duncan officially announced the hiring of South Carolina graduate Ruth Sorrel as an assistant coach of the National Champion Gamecock equestrian team.

Sorrel, a 2000 graduate of the Darla Moore School of Business, comes to South Carolina after yearlong stints as an assistant at Auburn University and Fresno State University. She replaces Joe Humphrey who resigned last month to accept a similar position in South Dakota.

As a former Gamecock, Sorrel competed on the 1999-2000 equestrian team and served as a captain. She received a SEC Academic Achievement award and was a member of the Dean’s list. She also received the Sportsmanship Award for IHSA Zone 5, Region II.

“We are thrilled to have Ruth back at USC as a part of the Gamecock family,” said USC Head Equestrian Coach Boo Duncan. “Her familiarity with USC, as well as her experiences at Fresno State and Auburn as an assistant specializing in Western, will be a huge asset.”

At Fresno State, Sorrel coached the Western Team to a seventh place finish nationally, before just recently coaching the Auburn team to a seventh place finish at the 2005 Varsity National, where the Gamecocks won the national title. She also qualified one equestrian for the 2005 National Reining Horse Derby.