Sanderson Named Chief Development Officer for the Gamecock Club

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Taylor Sanderson, Associate Athletics Director for Development at the University of Memphis, has been named Chief Development Officer for The Gamecock Club at the University of South Carolina, school officials announced on Monday.

In his role at Chief Development Officer, Sanderson will develop and execute long-term fundraising strategies, identifying new revenue opportunities and enhancing donor pipelines using data-driven decision-making.

“My family and I are thrilled to join the Gamecock family and can’t wait to meet the passionate Gamecock Club supporters who make USC Athletics so special. I’m excited to build on the tremendous momentum across South Carolina Athletics and work alongside our Gamecock Club members to provide the resources our student-athletes need to compete at the highest level.”

“I am excited to have Taylor join our Gamecock Club staff,” said Gamecock Club CEO Wayne Hiott. “His enthusiasm, energy and passion for building relationships make him a tremendous addition to our team. Taylor has played a vital role in elevating major gift fundraising efforts at Memphis and has excelled at every stop throughout his career. We look forward to the impact he will make as we continue to strengthen and grow the Gamecock Club.”

Sanderson joined the Memphis Athletics staff in December 2021 as Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership Giving and was promoted to Associate AD in September 2023.

In his role at Memphis, Sanderson oversaw leadership giving programs and played a key role in funding major projects, including the $226.5 million renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Sanderson helped lead the Memphis Athletics Fund to record-breaking fundraising totals the past three consecutive years. He was also instrumental in securing donor commitments, including naming rights for Landers Plaza, a signature gathering destination inside Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Before Memphis, Sanderson spent 2018-21 as Director of Development, Major Gifts at the University of Missouri, where one of his team’s accomplishments included breaking the school’s all-time fundraising record by raising $55 million in 2020-21. Prior to that, Sanderson spent a year and a half at the University of Nebraska as Development Assistant.

Sanderson earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Management at Iowa State University in 2016, where he was a two-time All-American decathlete and Big XII champion for the Cyclones. He also competed for the United States National Team in the decathlon in the 2017 Pan American Cup. Sanderson earned his master’s degree in Business from Nebraska in 2018.

Sanderson and his wife, Shauna, have two daughters, Olivia and Alaina.