S*0328 Concurrent Resolution, By Courson, Lourie, Setzler, Alexander, Allen, 
Bennett, Bright, Bryant, Campbell, Campsen, Cleary, Coleman, Corbin, Cromer, 
Davis, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, Hayes, Hembree, Hutto, Jackson, Johnson, 
Leatherman, Malloy, L. Martin, S. Martin, Massey, Matthews, McElveen, McGill, 
Nicholson, O'Dell, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Scott, Shealy, Sheheen, 
Thurmond, Turner, Verdin, Williams and Young
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR RAY TANNER, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA ATHLETICS DIRECTOR, ON HIS IMPRESSIVE CAREER AS BOTH COACH AND MENTOR
 TO YOUNG ATHLETES, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ESPECIALLY ON HIS OUTSTANDING
 SUCCESS AT THE HELM OF THE FABULOUS CAROLINA GAMECOCK BASEBALL TEAM.

   02/05/13  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House
   02/05/13  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (House Journal-page 5)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR RAY TANNER, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETICS DIRECTOR, ON HIS IMPRESSIVE CAREER AS BOTH COACH AND MENTOR TO YOUNG ATHLETES, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ESPECIALLY ON HIS OUTSTANDING SUCCESS AT THE HELM OF THE FABULOUS CAROLINA GAMECOCK BASEBALL TEAM.

Whereas, his long and successful tenure as University of South Carolina head baseball coach and his present success as USC athletics director have won Coach Ray Tanner the respect of his players, colleagues, and baseball fans across the nation; and

Whereas, on July 13, 2012, University of South Carolina president Dr. Harris Pastides announced that Ray Tanner had been selected as the university's new director of athletics. In his praise of Coach Tanner, Dr. Pastides reflected the view of the entire Palmetto State as he said, "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"; and

Whereas, a dedicated community leader whose charitable organization has made a difference in many South Carolina families, Ray Tanner is a three-time National Coach of the Year and Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year. He established one of the premier programs in college baseball and led the Garnet & Black to two NCAA Division I Baseball Championships, a pair of national runner-up finishes, six College World Series appearances, three SEC championships, six SEC Eastern Division titles, one SEC tournament crown, and thirteen consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances; and

Whereas, under Coach Tanner's direction, South Carolina's postseason success from 2010 to 2012 is arguably the greatest run in collegiate baseball history. In the three-year span, the Gamecocks established NCAA records with 22 consecutive postseason wins and 12 consecutive wins in the College World Series. The Gamecocks won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2010 and 2011 and turned in a national runner-up finish in 2012. South Carolina's 30-4 (.882) record over the past three seasons in the NCAA Tournament is the fifth-best three-year postseason record in NCAA history; and

Whereas, in addition, the 2012 CWS trip marked the sixth time in eleven years that South Carolina had reached Omaha. No Division I baseball team has made more appearances than the Gamecocks over the last eleven seasons; and

Whereas, the 2012 season was Ray Tanner's twenty-fifth year as a collegiate head coach. At South Carolina, he owns a 738-316 record, with a .700 winning percentage, second highest all-time among SEC coaches. His career record is 1,133-489-3, for a winning percentage of .699. His last twelve teams have featured twenty-three All-America performers; and

Whereas, as a proud husband and father, Ray Tanner finds his strongest support in his family: his wife, Charleston native Karen Donald, and their three children, Gracie, Maggie, and Luke; and

Whereas, grateful for his excellence as a coach and now as USC athletics director, the General Assembly takes great pleasure in commending Ray Tanner on his fine career, and the members wish him much continued success in the years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Ray Tanner, University of South Carolina athletics director, on his impressive career as both coach and mentor to young athletes, and congratulate him especially on his outstanding success at the helm of the fabulous Carolina Gamecock baseball team.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Ray Tanner.