Aug. 31, 2010
By Andrew Kitick
Assistant Media Relations Director
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner will be honored in Charleston, S.C. on Wednesday, Sept. 1 prior to the start of the Charleston RiverDogs-Greenville Drive game at Joe Riley Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tanner will be presented the key to the city by Charleston Mayor Joe Riley as well as throw out a ceremonial first pitch to former Gamecock and current RiverDog player DeAngelo Mack.
“Baseball fans throughout America were mesmerized by the dramatic achievement of Ray Tanner’s University of South Carolina Gamecocks in winning their First Men’s National Championship at the College World Series in June,” said Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. The State of South Carolina could not have a better ambassador than Ray Tanner. He is an excellent baseball coach and an extraordinary leader. The City of Charleston is so proud to name September 1 Ray Tanner Day and to welcome him to our community.”
“The RiverDogs are excited about partnering with the City of Charleston to bring Coach Ray Tanner to Riley Park,” said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. “Coach Tanner is not only a great ambassador for the University of South Carolina but a great ambassador for the game of baseball, and we’re pleased to have him return to one of our games.”
Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America’s National Coach of the Year, Ray Tanner just completed his 14th year as head coach at the University of South Carolina and his 23rd year as a head coach in collegiate baseball. He continues to lead the Gamecock baseball program to unprecedented heights with his commitment to excellence. Over the last decade, Tanner has established one of the premier programs in all of college baseball with milestones and accomplishments piling up each season. Atop the list is the 2010 national championship, as the Gamecocks became the first team ever to win six consecutive games in Omaha on the way to a national title, the first men’s national championship at the University of South Carolina. This past season’s trip was the fourth to the College World Series for Coach Tanner along with three consecutive trips from 2002-2004.
Under Tanner’s leadership, South Carolina owns the longest current streak of NCAA Regional appearances among the 12 SEC schools with 11 straight trips to the tournament dating back to the 2000 season. In that span, Carolina has eight NCAA Super Regional appearances (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010). South Carolina is one of only six schools in the nation to make at least eight NCAA Super Regionals in the last 11 years and one of only eight schools in the country to have reached the NCAA Regionals every season from 2000 to the present. The program’s 11-year total record of 522-217 is the fourth highest win total among NCAA Division I schools. South Carolina has 11 consecutive seasons of 40 or more wins.
The Gamecocks have also collected championships in the Southeastern Conference with regular season titles in 2000 and 2002 along with a SEC Tournament crown in 2004. Tanner’s last 11 teams have featured 20 All-America performers including this past year with senior right-handed pitcher Blake Cooper.
At South Carolina, Tanner has a .692 winning percentage – the second highest in Southeastern Conference history. This past season, Tanner also reached a career milestone, recording his 1,000th career victory as he became the fourth fastest active coach to reach that total. His 14-year record is 634-282 with a career record of 1,029-455-3 in 23 seasons as a head coach in Division I baseball.
