Aug. 13, 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major announced Friday that Ruth Sorrel has been promoted to Associate Head Coach effective immediately.
“I’m very glad to be able to promote Ruth to Associate Head Coach. She’s going into her sixth year with us, and she has established herself as one of the best coaches in collegiate equestrian,” Major said. “The girls love her and she has been a wonderful leader for our student-athletes.”
Sorrel’s promotion comes a just few months after South Carolina’s western team finished in third-place at the 2010 Varsity Equestrian National Championships. Seeded tenth, the Gamecocks upset New Mexico State, Auburn, and Georgia en route to a third-place finish.
“Ruth is such a great coach, and she really knows how to develop our girls into great riders once they arrive on campus. She already helps me with so many associate coach-type things as it is, so I felt like it was time to reward for her for how hard she works for our team and University.”
Entering her sixth season as a coach for the equestrian team, Sorrel was a member of the team from 1998-2000. Her career as a student-athlete at South Carolina included two SEC Academic Achievement honors and a spot on the Dean’s List. She was a team captain for the 1999-2000 season, her senior campaign. She graduated from the Unviersity of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business in 2000, followed by two coaching stints at Auburn and Fresno State. She joined the South Carolina staff prior to the 2005-2006 season.
“Ruth and I have such a strong relationship because we have known each other for so long,” Major said. “The number one reason a lot of girls choose South Carolina is because Ruth has created such a positive atmosphere around this program. And the girls look up to Ruth because they can see how her hard work has paid off, and she has been a great example to all of our female student-athletes here at South Carolina.”
Sorrel grew up in New Iberia, La., before moving to Chapin, S.C. She has ridden horses her entire life, starting at Rock’s Quarter Horses in New Iberia, then in Blythewood with Julie Kennedy and Prather Quarter Horses in Camden. The youngest of five children, Sorrel has nine nieces and nephews.
