June 13, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner has withdrawn his name from consideration for the vacant head coaching position at Texas A&M University.

“It is a tremendous compliment to our program that another school would be interested,” said Coach Tanner. “The commitment to our program by Dr. Sorensen, Dr. McGee, and our new athletics director Eric Hyman is unsurpassed. I am excited about our incoming recruiting class, the new baseball stadium on the horizon and the future of Carolina Baseball.”

In nine years at the helm of the Gamecocks, Tanner has guided his clubs to seven NCAA appearances including five straight NCAA Super Regional appearances from 2000-2004 as well as three consecutive College World Series from 2002-2004. Carolina also has won two SEC championships (2000, 2002); four SEC Eastern Division titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003) and a SEC tournament title (2004). The 2006 season will be Tanner’s 10th year as head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina.