Ray Tanner
Encyclopedia
Ray Tanner is in his 15th season as the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina
in Columbia
. His record since arriving at Carolina in 1997 is 689-296 (.699). He led USC to three consecutive College World Series
appearances in 2002
, 2003
and 2004
, two College World Series Championships in 2010
and 2011
, and coached the USA Baseball
National Team during the 2003 summer. His South Carolina teams have qualified for thirteen consecutive NCAA postseasons (the longest active streak in the Southeastern Conference
(SEC)). On April 11, 2010, Tanner recorded the 1,000th win of his career with a 2-0 victory over Vanderbilt
, becoming the 44th Division I coach in history to reach the milestone.
, Ray Tanner attended North Carolina State University
, in Raleigh
from 1977 to 1980. He played for Sam Esposito
, starting four seasons at shortstop and third base.
During his first season the Wolfpack reached the NCAA tournament, playing in the East Regional.
His teams earned bids to the NCAA tournament during seven of his nine seasons as head coach at NCSU, including five straight from 1990-1994. He was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1990.
His nine year record at NC State was 395-173-3.
. In 1999, Tanner led the Gamecocks to the SEC East Division title for the school's first division crown. Starting in 2000, Tanner help guide Carolina to one of the most successful stretches in program history. The Gamecocks made the College World Series
in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The 2002 team finished runner-up after losing to the Texas Longhorns in the championship game. The South Carolina baseball team has made the NCAA tournament every year since 2000, and they currently have the longest streak of NCAA tournament appearances in the Southeastern Conference. The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team
won the College World Series championship after taking the series 2-0 over the UCLA Bruins
. The championship was the first men's NCAA championship in school history. The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team
completed the season 55-14 and won the program's second national title after sweeping the championship series against the Florida Gators
2-0. This marked the first time that a team repeated as national champion since 2006-2007. On the way to the second championship, the Gamecocks went 10-0 in the NCAA tournament and set new records by winning 16 straight NCAA tournament games and 11 straight College World Series
games. Both streaks were started in the 2010 season.
In his 15 seasons, through 2011, Tanner has posted a 689–296 overall record with five College World Series appearances. Under Tanner, the Gamecocks have made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, advanced to the Super Regionals nine times, and have posted twelve 40-win and five 50-win seasons. Tanner led the Gamecocks to the 2010 and 2011 NCAA College World Series Championship. In addition, South Carolina won the 2000, 2002 and 2011 SEC regular season championships and the 2004 SEC Tournament championship. The Gamecocks have also claimed five Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011) with Tanner as head coach. He has been named SEC Coach of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2011. Tanner was also named National Coach of the Year in 2000 after the Gamecocks finished the season with a 56–10 record, in 2010 after the team finished 54–16, and in 2011 after a 55-14 campaign.
. He served as an assistant coach in 1993 and again in 1995 and 1996, coaching at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia
. During these stints he coached together with college baseball legends such as Skip Bertman and Ron Polk
.
During the summer of 2002, Tanner served as the head coach of the USA Baseball National Team, composed of some of the top college players. The team went undefeated during the regular season, including a sweep of its biggest rival, Japan
. The only two losses came at the Pan American Games
to Nicaragua
and Cuba
. The team finished the tournament as the runner-up. The win total of 27 is the highest in team history.
. He is married to the former Karen Donald, a native of Charleston, South Carolina
. The couple has three children. On November 10, 2010, Tanner was initiated into the Chi Omega chapter of the Kappa Sigma
Fraternity at South Carolina. According to the University of South Carolina's website, "Coach Tanner's involvement with Kappa Sigma comes from the chapter's commitment to the Ray Tanner Foundation, which is dedicated to bettering the lives of economically and medically disadvantaged children."
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. His record since arriving at Carolina in 1997 is 689-296 (.699). He led USC to three consecutive College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
appearances in 2002
2002 College World Series
The 2002 College World Series was held June 14 through June 22, 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Rosenblatt Stadium...
, 2003
2003 College World Series
The 2003 College World Series was held June 13 through June 23, 2003 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Rosenblatt Stadium. In the first best-of-three championship series since 1948, Rice...
and 2004
2004 College World Series
The 2004 College World Series was held June 18 through 28, 2004 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium....
, two College World Series Championships in 2010
2010 College World Series
The 2010 College World Series began on June 19, 2010 and concluded on June 29 in Omaha, Nebraska at Rosenblatt Stadium. South Carolina won the championship after defeating UCLA. Rosenblatt has hosted the CWS since 1950, but 2010 will be the final College World Series to be played in the famed...
and 2011
2011 College World Series
The 2011 College World Series began on June 18, 2011 and concluded on June 28 with the University of South Carolina defeating the University of Florida by a score of 5-2 in Omaha, Nebraska at TD Ameritrade Park. TD Ameritrade Park replaced Rosenblatt Stadium, which hosted the CWS from 1950–2010...
, and coached the USA Baseball
USA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
National Team during the 2003 summer. His South Carolina teams have qualified for thirteen consecutive NCAA postseasons (the longest active streak in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC)). On April 11, 2010, Tanner recorded the 1,000th win of his career with a 2-0 victory over Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, becoming the 44th Division I coach in history to reach the milestone.
Playing career
After graduating from South Johnston High School in Four Oaks, North CarolinaFour Oaks, North Carolina
Four Oaks is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2007 census.-History:Four Oaks was named by Colonel R. R. Bridgers in 1886 for an unusual sight that graced the land upon which he found himself. In 1850, 37 years before there was a town of Four...
, Ray Tanner attended North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
from 1977 to 1980. He played for Sam Esposito
Sam Esposito
Sam Esposito was the head baseball coach at North Carolina State University from 1967 to 1987.Esposito played major league baseball for ten years including playing with the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series.-References:...
, starting four seasons at shortstop and third base.
NC State
Tanner became an assistant coach to NCSU coach Sam Esposito immediately after his playing days were over. He remained in that position from 1980–1987, when Esposito retired and Tanner was named his successor. At age 28, he was one of the youngest head coaches in the country.During his first season the Wolfpack reached the NCAA tournament, playing in the East Regional.
His teams earned bids to the NCAA tournament during seven of his nine seasons as head coach at NCSU, including five straight from 1990-1994. He was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1990.
His nine year record at NC State was 395-173-3.
South Carolina
Tanner arrived at South Carolina prior to the start of the 1997 season. Tanner guided the Gamecocks to a 33–24 record in his first season in 1997 and finished fourth in the competitive SEC. The Gamecocks were greatly improved in 1998 and finished with 44 wins and a berth in the NCAA TournamentNCAA Tournament
NCAA tournament may refer to a number tournaments organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association:Men's sports*NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, the most common usage of this term*NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship...
. In 1999, Tanner led the Gamecocks to the SEC East Division title for the school's first division crown. Starting in 2000, Tanner help guide Carolina to one of the most successful stretches in program history. The Gamecocks made the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The 2002 team finished runner-up after losing to the Texas Longhorns in the championship game. The South Carolina baseball team has made the NCAA tournament every year since 2000, and they currently have the longest streak of NCAA tournament appearances in the Southeastern Conference. The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team
2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team
The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Gamecocks played their home games in Carolina Stadium. The team was coached by Ray Tanner, who was in his fourteenth season at Carolina.USC finished the...
won the College World Series championship after taking the series 2-0 over the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
. The championship was the first men's NCAA championship in school history. The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team
2011 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team
The 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Gamecocks played their home games in Carolina Stadium. The team was coached by Ray Tanner, who was in his fifteenth season at Carolina...
completed the season 55-14 and won the program's second national title after sweeping the championship series against the Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
2-0. This marked the first time that a team repeated as national champion since 2006-2007. On the way to the second championship, the Gamecocks went 10-0 in the NCAA tournament and set new records by winning 16 straight NCAA tournament games and 11 straight College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
games. Both streaks were started in the 2010 season.
In his 15 seasons, through 2011, Tanner has posted a 689–296 overall record with five College World Series appearances. Under Tanner, the Gamecocks have made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, advanced to the Super Regionals nine times, and have posted twelve 40-win and five 50-win seasons. Tanner led the Gamecocks to the 2010 and 2011 NCAA College World Series Championship. In addition, South Carolina won the 2000, 2002 and 2011 SEC regular season championships and the 2004 SEC Tournament championship. The Gamecocks have also claimed five Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011) with Tanner as head coach. He has been named SEC Coach of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2011. Tanner was also named National Coach of the Year in 2000 after the Gamecocks finished the season with a 56–10 record, in 2010 after the team finished 54–16, and in 2011 after a 55-14 campaign.
Team USA
Ray Tanner has a longstanding commitment to USA BaseballUSA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
. He served as an assistant coach in 1993 and again in 1995 and 1996, coaching at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. During these stints he coached together with college baseball legends such as Skip Bertman and Ron Polk
Ron Polk
Ronald Polk was a long-time head baseball coach at Mississippi State and is considered the "Father of SEC Baseball". He is by far the winningest coach in school and SEC history in all sports. In 28 seasons as the coach, he has to date compiled a 1139-590-2 record. His career record stands at...
.
During the summer of 2002, Tanner served as the head coach of the USA Baseball National Team, composed of some of the top college players. The team went undefeated during the regular season, including a sweep of its biggest rival, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The only two losses came at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. The team finished the tournament as the runner-up. The win total of 27 is the highest in team history.
Personal
Tanner grew up in Benson, North CarolinaBenson, North Carolina
Benson is a town located in Johnston County, North Carolina. The town lies at the intersection of Interstates 95 and 40. Each year Benson celebrates Mule Days the 4th Saturday of September, a festival that attracts over 60,000 people each year...
. He is married to the former Karen Donald, a native of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The couple has three children. On November 10, 2010, Tanner was initiated into the Chi Omega chapter of the Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
Fraternity at South Carolina. According to the University of South Carolina's website, "Coach Tanner's involvement with Kappa Sigma comes from the chapter's commitment to the Ray Tanner Foundation, which is dedicated to bettering the lives of economically and medically disadvantaged children."
Head coaching record
Achievements
- Career Record of 1084-469-3 (.698)
- 8th among active coaches by winning percentage
- 4th fastest active coach to reach 1000 wins
- Top 40 among active coaches by victories
- 25th all-time by winning percentage
- National Coach of the Year in 2000, 2010 and 2011
- 21 NCAA Tournament Appearances
- 9 Super Regional appearances, including 5 consecutive from 2000–2004
- 5 College World Series appearances, including 3 consecutive from 2002–2004
- 2010, 2011 CWS National Championship
- 2000, 2002 & 2011 SEC Championships
- 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 & 2011 SEC East Championships
- 1992 ACC Tournament Title
- 2004 SEC Tournament Title
- Five 50-win seasons
- Winningest college baseball coach from 2000–2004 by victories
- Winningest college baseball coach in the SEC from 2000-2011 by victories (269-179)
- Second winningest college baseball coach in SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
history by winning percentage, trailing only Skip Bertman of LSULouisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name... - Eight first round draft picks at South Carolina