Ray Tanner says he will accept vacant AD position. (Source: The Big Spur)
Former AD Eric Hyman left the position two weeks ago to become the new AD at Texas A&M. (Source: The Big Spur)COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Sources close to South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner have confirmed that he will step down to accept the vacant athletics director position with an official announcement expected Friday at a 2 p.m. press conference.
Tanner, whose success has lead the Gamecocks to two national championships and three straight appearances in the College World Series finals, will resign from his position as the baseball coach to accept the vacant AD position.
Tanner will be taking over an athletics department on the rise within the powerhouse that is the SEC. Former athletics director Eric Hyman resigned from the position two weeks ago to become Texas A&M's new athletics director.
Tanner has some experience in realm of administration. At NC State, he served as assistant athletics director in charge of game operations on top of his responsibilities as head baseball coach. He also holds a masters degree in public administration.
It also would not be the first time Tanner sniffed at the open athletics director position at South Carolina. In 2005, he had several meetings with then-USC president Andrew Sorenson about the job after former athletics director Mike McGee retired.
The Big Spur reports Tanner is likely to make $700,000 a year in his new role.
Tanner will be leaving behind a baseball program that is known as one of the elite-level teams in all of college baseball. In his 16 years as coach, he compiled a 738-316 record and never had a losing season with the Gamecocks.
On top of his USC accolades, Tanner was also awarded National Coach of the Year three time by Collegiate Baseball.
Assistant baseball coach Chad Holbrook is likely to be named the new baseball coach in the days following Tanner's acceptance of the position.
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