Board Of Trustees Approves Contract Extension To Head Baseball Coach Ray Tanner
Oct. 24, 2008
Columbia, S.C. - Ray Tanner By The Numbers in PDF Format
The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at the University of South Carolina has approved a one-year contract extension for head baseball coach Ray Tanner. The contract extension keeps Tanner under contract through the end of the 2013 season. Coach Tanner is in his 13th year as head coach for the Gamecock baseball program. "With Coach Tanner and the facilities we have, that's a recipe for tremendous success," said athletics director Eric Hyman. "I'm appreciative of the Board of Trustees for extending Ray's contract." In his first 12 seasons at the helm of the Gamecock baseball program, Tanner has compiled one of the top records in all of college baseball with a 540-243 (.690) mark with the Garnet & Black. His. .690 winning percentage is second highest in SEC history behind legendary LSU coach Skip Bertman and highest among all active SEC coaches. In addition, his .584 winning percentage (209-149 record) in SEC league games is best among active SEC coaches as well. "I am honored to be the baseball coach at the University of South Carolina," said Ray Tanner. "I am grateful to the Board of Trustees extending my contract. The commitment to our baseball program is unsurpassed, from Dr. Pastides to Eric Hyman to our dedicated and loyal Gamecock fans. I'm extremely happy to be here and I look forward to opening our new stadium as we continue our quest to compete for championships and to return to Omaha and the College World Series. " Under Tanner's leadership, South Carolina has appeared in nine straight NCAA Regionals, the longest current consecutive streak among the 12 SEC schools. He also has led the Gamecocks to seven NCAA Super Regionals in the past nine years, making Carolina one of only five schools in the country since 2000 to accomplish the feat. Tanner and the Gamecocks have made three trips to the College World Series (2002, 2003, 2004) in that time frame in addition to two SEC Championships (2000, 2002) and the school's first SEC Tournament title (2004). Included in those journeys to Omaha was a national runner-up finish in 2002. Over the past nine years the Gamecocks own a 428-178 record, the fifth highest win total in Division I Baseball as well as an SEC-best 162-107 mark in conference match-ups. Tanner's last nine teams have also featured 19 All-America performers including 2008 consensus first-team All-America first baseman Justin Smoak and shortstop Reese Havens. South Carolina recorded its ninth consecutive 40-plus win season in 2008 and earned a trip to the postseason and the NCAA Raleigh Regional, where the Gamecocks finished in second place. The 2008 squad featured Smoak and Havens, who along with All-America honors, were selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. Smoak was the 11th overall pick to the Texas Rangers with Havens drafted 22nd overall to the New York Mets. The Gamecocks finished with seven players drafted. Smoak and Havens also earned All-SEC accolades along with third baseman James Darnell and designated hitter Phil Disher. Smoak was a first-team choice with Darnell, Disher and Havens named to the second-team. Tanner has mentored many young players including several that have moved on to Major League Baseball and occupy spots on the 25-man rosters of numerous clubs. Among this group is a pair of infielders, Adam Everett (1997-98) and Brian Buscher (2002-03), who both were teammates on the Minnesota Twins for the 2008 season. Former infielder Brian Roberts (1999) has been a part of the Baltimore Orioles organization since being drafted in the 1999 supplemental first round and has seen Major League action in the last seven years, twice earning American League All-Star recognition. Also competing in the MLB this season were former infielder Steve Pearce (2004-05) in his second season with the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as former pitcher Billy Buckner (2004), who also had his second season in the bigs, this year seeing action with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Coach Tanner just entered his 22nd season in coaching in college baseball and owns an overall record of 935-416-3 with 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach at NC State and South Carolina. SOUTH CAROLINA HEAD COACH Ray Tanner Year School W L T Pct. POSTSEASON 1988 NC State 45 16 0 .738 NCAA East Regional 1989 NC State 35 21 2 .621 ACC Tournament 1990 NC State 48 20 0 .706 NCAA Atlantic Regional 1991 NC State 48 20 0 .706 NCAA East Regional 1992 NC State 46 18 0 .715 NCAA Atlantic Regional 1993 NC State 49 17 0 .742 NCAA Midwest Regional 1994 NC State 46 18 1 .715 NCAA Mideast Regional 1995 NC State 36 24 0 .600 ACC Tournament 1996 NC State 42 19 0 .689 NCAA Atlantic Regional 1997 South Carolina 33 24 0 .579 SEC Tournament 1998 South Carolina 44 18 0 .710 NCAA Atlantic Regional 1999 South Carolina 35 23 0 .603 SEC Tournament 2000 South Carolina 56 10 0 .848 NCAA Super Regional 2001 South Carolina 49 20 0 .710 NCAA Super Regional 2002 South Carolina 57 18 0 .760 NCAA College World Series 2003 South Carolina 45 22 0 .672 NCAA College World Series 2004 South Carolina 53 17 0 .757 NCAA College World Series 2005 South Carolina 41 23 0 .640 NCAA Regional 2006 South Carolina 41 25 0 .621 NCAA Super Regional 2007 South Carolina 46 20 0 .697 NCAA Super Regional 2008 South Carolina 40 23 0 .635 NCAA Regional TOTAL 935 416 3 .692 OVERALL (21 years) 540 243 0 .690 SOUTH CAROLINA (12 years)
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