What was the BOT thinking when they gave Tanner the AD job?
- Thread starter rockingamecock
- Start date
I recall several on the former board being in favor of the hire,
I did not understand the sentiment, regardless of his success as a baseball coach, as we all know, or should have known, it is two distinct skill sets.
I did not understand the sentiment, regardless of his success as a baseball coach, as we all know, or should have known, it is two distinct skill sets.
It was a baffling move all around. For one, it decimated what was at the time our most successful sport. We were coming off of 3 straight appearances in the CWS final, having won 2 of course. Ray was just 54 at the time and the most successful coach in our school's history. We could have been on the verge of a baseball dynasty. Instead, we never come to close to reclaiming the dominance of those teams. Can't imagine what might have been for our baseball program had he stayed in that role.
Besides that, it led to a downward turn for our sports overall (aside from the non-revenue WBB). I don't know of a good decision he made as AD. He famously convinced SOS to stay on when we could have been in position to hire a quality replacement. Instead, we know what transpired.
Maybe he felt like he'd accomplished all there was to accomplish in coaching. Maybe he was burned out on coaching. Maybe he just got heady ambitions that he could do for other sports what he did for baseball.
Besides that, it led to a downward turn for our sports overall (aside from the non-revenue WBB). I don't know of a good decision he made as AD. He famously convinced SOS to stay on when we could have been in position to hire a quality replacement. Instead, we know what transpired.
Maybe he felt like he'd accomplished all there was to accomplish in coaching. Maybe he was burned out on coaching. Maybe he just got heady ambitions that he could do for other sports what he did for baseball.
I remember reading at the time that Tanner had long developed an interest becoming an AD for several years prior to the hire. But I don’t understand the timing of his desire to make that move because of all you pointed out. He could have made that transition much later if that desire was still there.
I don’t remember the sources - if I read it or heard so maybe this is bogus. But what I recall was, the thinking was they thought they owed him the job due to his on field success and fearful that if he didn’t get it he would leave.
All of that, if true, is stupid. If you feel you owe him, give him a raise and/or dump more money into baseball. Hiring him as AD obviously means he’s no longer the baseball coach so it would not have mattered if he left.
It’s so stupid that it’s believable.
All of that, if true, is stupid. If you feel you owe him, give him a raise and/or dump more money into baseball. Hiring him as AD obviously means he’s no longer the baseball coach so it would not have mattered if he left.
It’s so stupid that it’s believable.
Just going off memory, but while he's made some boneheaded coaching/extension decisions, I recall some saying he's excellent at fund raising or some other aspects of the AD job.
Not arguing for him, just offering what some have said are reasons he got the job.
Not arguing for him, just offering what some have said are reasons he got the job.
University ambassador would have been a great role for him. No decision-making responsibility. Just hobnob with donors.
That rings a bell now that you mention it.
If so, and his mind was made up to leave baseball, what could have been the BOTs motivation to put him at AD? There have been lots of great coaches in college sports. Almost none have transitioned to AD
If it would not embarrass them publicly, putting their photos on state-wide billboards with the word "shame" next to them, they would crawl out from under their beds and apologize to Gamecock Nation.
Ray was/is a Gamecock legend. If I remember correctly about 90% of this forum agreed at this time. Early everybody knew he was not prepared for the job. He and the BOT should have found a face-saving solution for both parties. The ambassador position would have been great.
Well its not like we didnt do our due diligence, LOL
"He came to see me and said that he was ready," Pastides said. "I asked him if he was sure and he said yes
Ray Tanner hung up his cleats and put on a suit to become South Carolina's new athletics director.
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - "The University of South Carolina's athletics director will be Ray Tanner," USC President Harris Pastides said.
Amidst the applause of awaiting media, head baseball coach Ray Tanner approached the podium -- a coach no more -- and shook the hand of President Pastides.
"Very proud of you, coach," Pastides said, USC hat in his hand, "very, very proud of you."
"Let me put that hat on," Tanner said.
As he puts on the hat, Tanner takes on the role of a growing and expanding athletics department and leaves behind his successful 32-year coaching career.
In the Friday afternoon press conference, Pastides announced the end of the short search to replace outgoing AD Eric Hyman.
Pastides said when Hyman resigned, Tanner approached him about the job.
"He came to see me and said that he was ready," Pastides said. "I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. I said our fans might be mad about my taking him away from baseball and he said I'm sure and I'm ready for it if you'll have me."
A visibly emotional Tanner first thanked his family for their support in his new role.
"I want to thank my wife, Karen, and our children, who have unwavering love and support," Tanner said, voice shaking. "As is often the case in our business, our jobs impact our families, and my family, just like yours, handles it with a wonderful spirit, which I truly appreciate."
With his coaching career at an end, Tanner was asked how he felt about leaving behind the baseball diamond.
"I was at a point, I think, in my coaching career that I loved it, I was having fun, probably more so in the past 10 years than the previous 15, but I've never been a coach that wanted to stay until it was too late," Tanner said. "I wanted to get out while it was great. So many times I've seen great coaches stay and it didn't work out great at the end and the ones that are great at the end -- it's a small percentage."
In his brief remarks, Tanner talked about the challenges of taking off the baseball uniform and moving into his new role.
"This might be the biggest challenge for me -- putting on that neck tie," Tanner joked.
But it didn't take very long for him to embrace the challenge. In his first two acts as AD, Tanner says he has moved assistant athletics director Charles Waddell into the role of deputy athletics director and Kevin O'Connell into the role of chief operating officer.
Tanner also announced a press conference for Monday morning at 11 a.m. to reveal a new baseball coach. He joked the search for the new coach would be "short". All signs seem to indicate that Tanner will hire assistant head coach Chad Holbrook to replace him in the dugout.
With Tanner's success as a baseball coach unquestioned, he now turns to an administrative role with a department whose stock is on the rise in the Southeastern Conference thanks to the baseball team's national success and the football team's ascendency within the SEC.
As the head man at South Carolina, Tanner was the conductor of arguably the most successful run as a men's coach in the Gamecock athletics program.
With two national championships and three straight appearances -- six altogether -- in the College World Series finals, Tanner put together some of the best teams to ever take the diamond at Carolina Stadium and Sarge Frye Field.
Tanner first arrived on campus before the 1997 season, and was hired to replace outgoing coach June Raines.
"I know that I go out there and work hard and we're going to try and put our kids in a good situation. Integrity's going to be the focal point of this program on and off the field," Tanner said in his first press conference as USC's coach.
And he really did put the kids in a good situation. In his 16 years as South Carolina's skipper, he compiled a 738-316 record and never had a losing season with the Gamecocks.
Tanner was not only appreciated by USC fans, but honored by the media as he was awarded National Coach of the Year three times by Collegiate Baseball.
"He came to see me and said that he was ready," Pastides said. "I asked him if he was sure and he said yes
The end of an era and the beginning of a new one: Tanner is new USC AD
Published: Jul. 13, 2012 at 3:42 PM EDT|Updated: Jul. 23, 2012 at 3:42 PM EDT
Ray Tanner hung up his cleats and put on a suit to become South Carolina's new athletics director.
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - "The University of South Carolina's athletics director will be Ray Tanner," USC President Harris Pastides said.
Amidst the applause of awaiting media, head baseball coach Ray Tanner approached the podium -- a coach no more -- and shook the hand of President Pastides.
"Very proud of you, coach," Pastides said, USC hat in his hand, "very, very proud of you."
"Let me put that hat on," Tanner said.
As he puts on the hat, Tanner takes on the role of a growing and expanding athletics department and leaves behind his successful 32-year coaching career.
In the Friday afternoon press conference, Pastides announced the end of the short search to replace outgoing AD Eric Hyman.
Pastides said when Hyman resigned, Tanner approached him about the job.
"He came to see me and said that he was ready," Pastides said. "I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. I said our fans might be mad about my taking him away from baseball and he said I'm sure and I'm ready for it if you'll have me."
A visibly emotional Tanner first thanked his family for their support in his new role.
"I want to thank my wife, Karen, and our children, who have unwavering love and support," Tanner said, voice shaking. "As is often the case in our business, our jobs impact our families, and my family, just like yours, handles it with a wonderful spirit, which I truly appreciate."
With his coaching career at an end, Tanner was asked how he felt about leaving behind the baseball diamond.
"I was at a point, I think, in my coaching career that I loved it, I was having fun, probably more so in the past 10 years than the previous 15, but I've never been a coach that wanted to stay until it was too late," Tanner said. "I wanted to get out while it was great. So many times I've seen great coaches stay and it didn't work out great at the end and the ones that are great at the end -- it's a small percentage."
In his brief remarks, Tanner talked about the challenges of taking off the baseball uniform and moving into his new role.
"This might be the biggest challenge for me -- putting on that neck tie," Tanner joked.
But it didn't take very long for him to embrace the challenge. In his first two acts as AD, Tanner says he has moved assistant athletics director Charles Waddell into the role of deputy athletics director and Kevin O'Connell into the role of chief operating officer.
Tanner also announced a press conference for Monday morning at 11 a.m. to reveal a new baseball coach. He joked the search for the new coach would be "short". All signs seem to indicate that Tanner will hire assistant head coach Chad Holbrook to replace him in the dugout.
With Tanner's success as a baseball coach unquestioned, he now turns to an administrative role with a department whose stock is on the rise in the Southeastern Conference thanks to the baseball team's national success and the football team's ascendency within the SEC.
As the head man at South Carolina, Tanner was the conductor of arguably the most successful run as a men's coach in the Gamecock athletics program.
With two national championships and three straight appearances -- six altogether -- in the College World Series finals, Tanner put together some of the best teams to ever take the diamond at Carolina Stadium and Sarge Frye Field.
Tanner first arrived on campus before the 1997 season, and was hired to replace outgoing coach June Raines.
"I know that I go out there and work hard and we're going to try and put our kids in a good situation. Integrity's going to be the focal point of this program on and off the field," Tanner said in his first press conference as USC's coach.
And he really did put the kids in a good situation. In his 16 years as South Carolina's skipper, he compiled a 738-316 record and never had a losing season with the Gamecocks.
Tanner was not only appreciated by USC fans, but honored by the media as he was awarded National Coach of the Year three times by Collegiate Baseball.
Add to that: Holbrook was the next great can't miss better get more trophy cases head coach. Boy, everything fell apart.
Tanner had already made it clear that he was leaving the dugout. If I correctly recall, he was looking at AD or assistant AD positions elsewhere in the region. That the USC AD position came open was "unexpected" and gave Ray another option.
A reminder once again that Ray had already undertaken additional athletic administration roles throughout his coaching career dating back to his days at NCSU. Meaning he was not completely out of his element.
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This statement strikes me as being a bit misleading. It almost sounds like he was threatening USC. Actually, it struck me like it was an additional option dumped in Ray's lap.
I think it would have worked out better for Ray (and USC) had he gone to a school like College of Charleston, Furman, Winthrop, Coastal, etc. as AD or assistant AD, cut his teeth on that, i.e., an opportunity to work exclusively in athletics administration, then come back to USC after Hyman's replacement had left. Or offer Ray an assistant AD position at USC after the 2012 season.
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It’s certainly quite clear post fact that the paradigm has shifted regarding the hiring of AD’s.A business background or equivalent is now a must.I’m sure I’m overlooking somebody but other than Ray who has hired an AD from the coaching ranks?LSU hired they’re old baseball coach with it seems mixed results as well.
Keith Carter at Ole Miss is a former player there but I don’t think he came from the coaching ranks.
Keith Carter at Ole Miss is a former player there but I don’t think he came from the coaching ranks.
Amazing... football players with marketable degrees CAN do something other than sports.
I recall something about him having a growing interest in becoming an AD, but still if he was going to leave the dugout regardless then you thank him for his work and let him leave.
A guy with two national championships. Here. At South Carolina.
You guys are just bluster and sabre rattlers. Inspector Kemp and the villagers from Young Frankenstein.
You’re such a freaking cry baby. He was leaving anyhow. You miss that part? You don’t hand him the AD job. That’s the point. The baseball nattys didn’t automatically qualify him for the job as the BoT seemed to have thought. Learn to follow a conversation before commenting moron
Thanks for posting this. It's too bad that apparently, Tanner did not recall this statement when he encouraged Spurrier to stay on......
Indeed, the titles don't qualify him as competent to be AD, but they do earn him sufficient capital to find an appropriate position within the department if he so chooses. And while he may not have been the best person for the job (I was surprised to hear the announcement of his hire as AD), he needed a position that was more than just shaking hands. Maybe not AD, but one that came with substantial administrative duties.
Yeah, much more logical approach. He would have then had the backgrounds of both worlds and that probably would have served him better going forward.
Should’ve hired a proven AD from outside and made Ray Assistant AD or “AD in Waiting” So he could get some good experience and mentoring. He didn’t start his coaching career as a head coach and shouldn’t have expected or allowed to start at the top in sports administration.