University of South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner spoke to the Columbia Capital Rotary Club on October 19, 2016. Tanner is in his fifth year guiding the fortunes of the Gamecocks’ athletics programs. After a long and highly successful career as Carolina’s baseball coach, Tanner officially began his new duties on Aug. 2, 2012.
Under Tanner’s watch, Gamecock student-athletes have achieved tremendous success in intercollegiate athletic competition, in the classroom and the community.
During the past two academic years, Gamecock student-athletes have led all schools in the SEC Academic Honor Roll, earning more than 700 recognitions. Carolina student-athletes have earned a cumulative 3.0 grade point average or better in 18 consecutive semesters.
In the last four academic years, the Gamecocks have won a national championship (equestrian), five SEC regular season and tournament championships and its 686 points in the 2015-16 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup All-Sports Standings is the most since 2002-03 (701 points).
In 2015-16, Carolina also claimed the inaugural Certified SC Grown Palmetto Series, sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. The series consists of athletic, community service and academic points in head-to-head matchups against Clemson.
The Gamecocks have had 15 teams finish in the Top 10, 29 finish in the Top 25 with student-athletes earning 127 All-SEC and 205 All-America honors during the last four years.
Carolina student-athletes accomplished these academic and athletic feats while performing more than 9,000 hours of community service, breaking an athletics department record for three straight years.
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