COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – University of South Carolina (USC) athletic director Ray Tanner is taking on a new role, according to a university press release.
Tanner will become athletic director emeritus and senior advisor to University President Michael Amiridis. He will remain athletic director until someone else is hired for the position.
“I am honored and humbled that I have been so fortunate to be a part of this wonderful university and will continue to be,” Tanner said. “I have thought for some time that Carolina would need a new athletic director at some point and the president and I have had those conversations. There was interest in me staying at the university. I agreed to stay in a new role because of my love for this university, this city and this state.”
Tanner is currently in his 13th year leading the South Carolina athletic department. He oversaw six national championships and served as head coach of the baseball team for 16 seasons before becoming director. Under Tanner’s leadership, the baseball team won two national titles.
“I was hesitant to accept Ray’s decision because of how much he has accomplished and means to the Gamecock community,” Amiridis said. “Ray serves USC with so much integrity and dedication and sets high standards in developing student-athletes and enhancing the fan experience. I am very pleased that the Board of Directors has approved Ray continuing his commitment to the university from a different position.”
The university said that under Tanner’s leadership, Gamecock teams have reached “new levels of success,” noting the women’s basketball team’s three national titles and the equestrian team’s national championship title in 2015.
Under Tanner, USC said eight other athletic programs achieved their best results in history, with football, volleyball and men’s basketball reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2017.
Below you can watch a live stream of a press conference in which university officials comment on the transition.
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