Update: 3:07 p.m.
USC President Harris Pastides didn't have to look far to find a gem of an athletics director, as he already was manning the baseball diamond.
Coach Ray Tanner was officially named the athletics director at the school on Friday afternoon.
Vote in our poll below: Is Tanner the right person to lead USC athletics
Tanner, 54, will begin his new duties on Aug. 2.
“Sometimes you can search the world over for the perfect candidate and at times you know you have the right leader within your organization,” said Dr. Pastides. “For USC, we knew we had the right person on our team already. When Coach Tanner approached me two years ago and sought more administrative responsibilities, I clearly knew that this was an individual who was seeking a way to lead; to take our great university to the next level,” noted Pastides. “Ray exemplifies all the qualities I am seeking in an Athletics Director: integrity, a winning attitude, a confident leader and manager and an individual who puts the well-being of our student-athletes above and beyond all other things.”
Tanner, who was named the head coach in June 1996, is a three-time National Coach of the Year and Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, Tanner just completed his 16th year as head coach at the University of South Carolina.
Tanner has led the Gamecocks to two NCAA Division I Baseball Championships, a two national runner-up finishes, six College World Series appearances, three SEC championships, six SEC Eastern division titles, a SEC tournament crown and 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Tanner grew up in Benson, N.C., and is married to the former Karen Donald, a native of Charleston. They have two daughters, Bridgette Grace (“Gracie”) and Margaret Pearl (“Maggie”) and one son, Joseph Luke (“Luke”).
Reported earlier
Are the tides turning against the University of South Carolina?
Eric Hyman, the school's athletic director resigns to take a new job.
The Gamecocks miss the three-peat at the College World Series.
Reptar the Fish died Thursday.
And now, baseball coach Ray Tanner is expected to be named the university's next athletic director at a press conference Friday afternoon.
Is Tanner the right person to build upon USC's successes in football, baseball and women's basketball?
Tell us what you think in our poll and then sound off in the comments section below.
