Boo Major Named 2014 SEC Equestrian Coach of the Year
April 9, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the second straight year, University of South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major has been named SEC Coach of the year, it was announced Wednesday by the conference office.
“I’m certainly honored to receive this award from an outstanding group of SEC coaches, but this is a reflection on our team and the riders,” Major said. We have a terrific group of student-athletes who have committed themselves to succeeding in the classroom and in the competition arena. This year, we had 21 riders named to the NCEA Academic Honor Roll, seven of which were named to the Academic First Team, and that’s something we take a lot of pride in. I want to thank Athletics Director Ray Tanner and our University President Dr. Harris Pastides for their leadership and support of our program. I also want to thank everybody in the athletics department for their work and commitment to our team’s success, and certainly I want to recognize our assistant coaches Ruth Sorrel and Carol Gwin for what they’ve done.”
Major, in her 17th season at the University of South Carolina, was voted SEC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Major and the Gamecocks won the 2014 SEC Equestrian Championship, their second in a row, becoming the first team at South Carolina (in any sport) to win back-to-back SEC titles. This year, the Gamecocks have posted their best regular season in team history, going 11-2 overall and 4-2 in conference action. South Carolina also set a program record with 13 dual meet victories. The Gamecocks have won nine or more points in all 15 of their meets this season and in 21 of their last 22 meets dating back to last year. The Gamecocks have been ranked No. 1 in the NCEA Rankings since Dec. 2, 2013, a stretch of 19 consecutive weeks, also a record at South Carolina.
Along with back-to-back SEC Championships (2013, 2014), Major has led the Gamecocks to two NCEA National Championships (2005, 2007) and three straight NCEA Hunter Seat National Championships (2005, 2006, 2007). Before the Southeastern Conference added an equestrian championship for the 2012-2013 season, Major also guided Carolina to its first Southern Equestrian Championship in 2012.
