South Carolina Gamecocks AD Ray Tanner stepping down from role, will remain with USC

South Carolina Gamecocks athletics director Ray Tanner is stepping down. After leading the University of South Carolina's athletics department for over 12 years, Tanner will move into a new role as a senior advisor to the school's president (Dr. Michael Amiridis). However, Tanner will maintain his AD duties until the school is able to hire his full-time replacement.

The news of Tanner's coming retirement was announced on Friday during a USC Board of Trustees meeting, according to a report from the Post and Courier's David Cloninger. Speculation had swirled in recent years that Tanner was nearing retirement (he is 66 years old), but the actual decision to step away was kept under wraps until this announcement.

Prior to taking on the job as athletics director, Ray Tanner was the most successful head coach in the storied history of the South Carolina baseball program. Tanner led the Gamecocks to two National Championships in 2010 and 2011 (just the second and third team national titles in the school's history, joining the 2002 women's outdoor track and field team).

This summer, USC associate athletics director Chance Miller left the university to become the athletics director at Coastal Carolina, something that was somewhat surprising as many viewed Miller as the heir apparent to Tanner whenever he elected to retire. At this point in time, though, no information about possible replacements or candidates for the job have been reported.

Tanner's decision to continue serving as AD in the interim allows President Amiridis and the Board of Trustees to conduct a thorough search for his replacement. After the new hire is made, Tanner's role as a senior advisor to the president will allow him to continue serving the Gamecocks' athletic department and the University of South Carolina, likely being a large figure in fundraising efforts, one of the biggest strengths he showed during his time as AD.