Former head baseball coach now leading school's athletics programs
Now he's hoping to oversee the success of all the university's athletics.
Tanner, who spent 16 seasons turning the Gamecocks into arguably one of the top baseball teams in the country, was announced as the school's new athletics director on July 13 by USC President Harris Pastides. Tanner stepped away from a coaching career that spanned more than three decades, including 25 years as a head coach.
While Tanner won't be putting on the uniform anymore, he is happy that accepting his new job didn't require a change in colors.
"I had always hoped that, once my coaching career was over, I would get an opportunity to remain at USC in athletic administration," Tanner said. "The opportunity presented itself with [former USC Athletics Director] Eric Hyman going to Texas A&M, and with the support of Dr. Pastides and the board, it just worked out great. I'm honored and humbled that I get to stay at this university."
Tanner solidified his spot as one of the premier coaches in college baseball during his tenure with the Gamecocks. Under Tanner's guidance, USC won, in addition to two national titles, three SEC championships, won six SEC Eastern division crowns, made the NCAA Tournament 13 consecutive years and made six trips to the College World Series. Tanner also took South Carolina to four national championship appearances.
Although Tanner believed he still could have coached for several more years, the timing of the job opening was too good to pass up.
"I had just finished my 25th year as a head coach and I felt like I had some good years left," Tanner said, "but I felt that the timing was good. Certainly there are going to be days that I'll miss baseball, but I'm excited about the opportunity to work with athletics."
Tanner nearly left the game of baseball as a three-time national champion, but his Gamecocks fell just short of capturing a third consecutive title. The success of the program was encouraging but made the decision to walk away from the
game very challenging.
"It was difficult, because our baseball program has been really, really good in the past few years," Tanner said. "So, from that standpoint, it was very difficult. I'm going to miss the camaraderie of being with the players and the coaches, but, at the same time, I'm excited about the opportunity to head 20 sports instead of one."
With Tanner now overseeing the entire athletics program, the job of head baseball coach will fall to former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Chad Holbrook. The hiring was Tanner's first official move as athletics director and was an easy decision for the new AD.
"I don't think our baseball program will miss a beat," said Tanner. "Coach Holbrook is one of the best head coaches in the country and one of the best recruiters in the country. The transition should be seamless and you can expect the baseball program to remain successful."
While Tanner, who began his coaching career as an assistant for N.C. State in 1980, has an undeniable passion for the sport of baseball, there are things that he's glad are in the past.
"I'm probably not going to be missing getting off that bus at 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning after a road trip," laughed Tanner. "There are peaks and valleys in coaching, but I know there will be peaks and valleys as director of athletics as well. There will be parts of baseball that I miss, but there will also be parts that I won't miss."
Tanner's new job, which he officially began on Aug. 2, will include many new challenges. However, according to Tanner, the hardest adjustment has had nothing to do with facilities or coaches or players.
"Getting accustomed to the new uniform, which has a necktie, that's probably been the hardest part of the job so far," Tanner said. "My old uniform didn't have a necktie."