Oct. 8, 2010
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner has received a contract extension approved by the University’s Board of Trustees on Friday afternoon. Tanner’s contract was extended to a five-year deal taking him through the 2015 season. His contract is worth $510,000 annually.
“I am honored and humbled by the commitment from President Pastides, athletics director Eric Hyman and the Board of Trustees,” said Tanner. “I am very fortunate to have a great coaching staff, outstanding student-athletes and one of the best facilities in all of college baseball with the most loyal fans. The University of South Carolina is very special to my family and I. We are looking forward to future success in years to come.”
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.
“A major theme in the athletics department has been to recognize excellence,” said Hyman, “and our goals have been to battle for championships and to be a nationally prominent program. The athletics department wants to recognize Coach Tanner and the high level of excellence the University of South Carolina baseball team has achieved in all areas – on the field, in the classroom and in the community – by extending his contract through the 2014-15 season.”
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 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.
