Ray Tanner

Ray Tanner
Title Head coach College University of South CarolinaSport BaseballTeam record 540-243 (.690) Born March 25, 1958(1958-03-25) (age 50) Place of birth Smithfield, NCCareer highlights Overall 935-416-3 (.691) Championships 2000 Southeastern Conference
2002 Southeastern Conference
2004 Southeastern Conference TournamentAwards 1990 ACC Coach of the Year
1998 SEC Coach of the Year
2000 SEC Coach of the Year
2000 National Coach of the Year Coaching career (HCunless noted) 1988-1996
1997-Present NC State
University of South Carolina

Ray Tanner (born March 25, 1958) is in his 12th season as the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. His record since arriving at Carolina in 1997 is 540-243 (.690). He led Carolina to three consecutive College World Series appearances in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and coached the USA Baseball National Team during the 2003 summer. His South Carolina team has qualified for nine consecutive NCAA postseasons (the longest streak in the SEC), and is one of only two programs in the nation to appear in the Super Regionals 7 out of the past 8 years.

1 Playing career
2 Coaching career
- 2.1 NC State
3 Team USA
4 Personal
5 Achievements
6 See also
7 External links

Playing career

After graduating from South Johnston High School in Four Oaks, NC, Ray Tanner attended North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, NC from 1977 to 1980. He played for Sam Esposito, starting four seasons at shortstop and third base.

Coaching career

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.

Team USA

Ray Tanner has a longstanding commitment to USA Baseball. He served as an assistant coach in 1993 and again in 1995 and 1996, coaching at the Olympics in Atlanta, GA. 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, comprised 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.

Personal

Tanner is married to Karen Donald and the couple has 3 children, Bridgette Grace, Margaret Pearl, and Joseph Luke.

Achievements

Career Record of 935-416-3 (.691)
- 8th among active coaches by winning percentage
- 4th fastest active coach to reach 900 wins
- Top 40 among active coaches by victories
- 25th all-time by winning percentage
Coach of the year in 2000
17 NCAA Tournament Appearances
- 7 Super Regional appearances, including 5 consecutive appearances starting in 2000
- 3 consecutive College World Series appearances starting in 2002
2000 & 2002 SEC Championships
1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003 SEC East Championships
2004 SEC Tournament Title
Three 50-win seasons
Winningest college baseball coach from 2000-2004 by victories
Winningest college baseball coach in the SEC from 2000-2008 by victories (162-107)
Second winningest college baseball coach in SEC history by winning percentage, trailing only Skip Bertman of LSU
Seven first round draft picks at South Carolina