Culture of Support from Past and Current Gamecocks in Men's Tennis
Seth Rose never thought he’d get into politics, but when the former South Carolina tennis (1999-2003) All-American and two-time All-SEC honoree was recently elected to the State House of Representatives, his Gamecock family was right there to watch him be sworn in.
“It was really cool to see Coach [Josh] Goffi and men’s tennis players present at my swearing-in ceremony (December 3),” Rose said. “They were there. Coach (Kent) DeMars, who I played for, and my assistant coach Jeff Kefalos were there. The Gamecock family is something special.”
With Josh Goffi at the helm of South Carolina men’s tennis for the last eight seasons, the message to family is clear – once a Gamecock, always a Gamecock.
“Our support for our guys doesn’t stop; being a Gamecock doesn’t stop,” Goffi said. “We’re going to be there for you regardless of where you go. Once you are part of this program, you are a part of this program forever. So, when we can go out and show support for one of our guys, we’re going to do that. I want all our guys to know that once you’ve finished (playing) here, you’re not done being a Gamecock. Seth has been a great asset to the program for a while now.”
After graduating from law school and working as a prosecutor early in his career, Rose hadn’t considered a life in politics initially, but a desire to improve things in his community led him to successfully run and serve two terms on the Richland County Council before recently being elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for Columbia’s District 72.
“The more that I serve, the more I see opportunities to help,” Rose said. “I saw serving in the state legislature as an opportunity to serve more people and take my public service to the next level.
“With today’s political climate, we have a greater need to have good people that can bring our community and state together to serve. I want our state and our community to be the best it can be. I see the challenges we face as an opportunity to get good things done. When it’s time to get out of politics, I’ll know. I’m supposed to serve the people, and I’m accountable to them. If at any time my heart is not in it, I’ll move along.”
Rose is not a stranger to success. As a freshman in 1999, Rose wasn’t intimidated and made an impact right away on the tennis court as he was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Region II Rookie of the Year. After earning All-America honors as a senior in 2003, Rose was later inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. Rose noted that he often applies the lessons and skills learned as a student-athlete into his professional life as a lawyer at his firm (Seth Rose, Attorney at Law) and now as a member of South Carolina’s House of Representatives.
“The University has afforded me so many opportunities and opened so many doors.”
– Seth Rose
“Running for office isn’t a very glamorous process,” Rose said. “There are a lot of times when you have gut-checks, and it takes a great deal of energy, effort and time management. You also have to have a thick skin and learn how to persevere. That’s something that I learned through athletics. The competitive nature that I have, coupled with my work ethic, were two of my biggest attributes as an athlete; probably more so than my athletic talent. I took that into every phase of my life, whether it’s my law practice or serving.
“As a freshman, I was a finalist for National Freshman of the Year. I always feel like you have to seize the moment. One thing I learned from athletics is to assert yourself. That’s something I intend to do even as a freshman at the State House. I was just selected to the Judiciary Committee, which is something that I’m really honored by.”
Rose came to South Carolina from Florida and quickly became a passionate Gamecock. He takes pride in the fact that his Gamecocks were 4-0 against Clemson during his playing days. That’s something that hasn’t faded over time, and he has made his home just up the road from the South Carolina Athletics Village with his wife, Anna, and three children; Cole, Luke, and Tillie.
“I’m really the biggest fan of University of South Carolina Athletics,” Rose said. “I love hearing the sounds coming from Stone Stadium (soccer), and I love riding around on my golf cart, seeing the student-athletes and all the other students walking around campus. Carolina is a special place for my family. My wife and I met at the University of South Carolina, and we live in walking distance to campus. The University has afforded me so many opportunities and opened so many doors, that I’m so thankful to be a part of the Gamecock community. It’s fun to see places where I have so many fond memories.”
Rose stays close to Gamecock Athletics in a lot of ways, including as a board member of the USC Association of Lettermen.
“If I’m so passionate about Gamecock Athletics, I wanted to be involved to the fullest extent that I could be,” Rose said. “The opportunity arose, and I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to get lettermen involved. Anytime you can be involved with something you’re passionate about, that’s a good thing.”
His passion is especially welcome around the men’s tennis program, where Goffi embraces his example to the next generation of student-athletes.
“Part of our jobs as coaches is to give our guys the understanding that there are different avenues to success,” Goffi said. “We have alumni in the financial sector, in the tennis industry and, now, with Seth, this is a whole different avenue where one of our guys is moving up the ladder. It’s great for them to see someone who was in their shoes at one point go on to be successful and make an impact in the same community they are in.”
And, as Rose is in final preparations for his new role in the South Carolina State House, rest assured that there is one community he will always represent and always look to impact.
“I’m a Gamecock, through and through.”
