Holbrook named as head baseball coach in new director’s first hire
After 16 seasons in the Gamecock dugout, USC head baseball coach Ray Tanner has decided to tackle a new challenge.
The former Gamecock skipper was named the university’s new athletic director on Friday following the departure of Eric Hyman, who left earlier in the month to take the AD job at Texas A&M.
Tanner will officially take over the duties of athletic director on Aug. 2. University President Harris Pastides said that the decision to promote Tanner was a clear one.
“Sometimes you can search the world over for the perfect candidate and at times you know you have the right leader within your organization,” Pastides said in an email to students, faculty and staff announcing the decision. “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 enters his new job after leading the Gamecock baseball team to its best stretch in program history, touting a 738-316 record in his 16 years at the helm. Under Tanner’s guidance, USC made six appearances at the College World Series and has participated in the NCAA tournament for 13 consecutive seasons. The Gamecocks captured two consecutive national championships, three SEC titles and six SEC Eastern division crowns with Tanner as their coach.
Tanner, who served as an assistant athletic director during his time at N.C. State, says that his goal is to keep USC’s athletics program competing at a high level.
“We currently have tremendous momentum in our department,” Tanner said at his introductory press conference. “I’m very excited to begin my new role as we continue on our path to give Carolina forward momentum. It is imperative that we stay on track as we compete in the SEC and nationally.”
Tanner’s new contract is worth $675,000 annually, with a base salary of $375,000. The deal includes a buyout clause of $500,000 for every year remaining on the contract. Tanner will have to pay the sum if he decides to accept another coaching or administrative job at another university.
As for the baseball program, the search for a new head coach did not take long. Chad Holbrook, the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, was introduced Monday morning as USC’s new head baseball coach. Holbrook also served as the third base coach in his first four seasons with the Gamecocks.
“It’s been my dream to coach at a premier institution to raise my family in a great community and work at a university where I can work with great people,” Holbrook said. “South Carolina and this university affords me all of that.”
Before joining the USC program, Holbrook was a member of the coaching staff at the University of North Carolina for 15 years. Tanner said promoting Holbrook was an easy decision.
“This job as South Carolina’s head baseball coach could have attracted many across the country, but the best man for this job is already here,” said Tanner. “[Holbrook] will be a great ambassador for the University of South Carolina.”
Pitching coach Jerry Myers has been promoted to replace Holbrook in the role of associate head coach.