South Carolina Gamecocks: Coaching legend retires

The South Carolina Gamecocks saw a coaching legend call it a career on Friday as equestrian coaching legend Boo Major has retired.

A Columbia native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina (class of 1981), Boo Major is an icon in the world of equestrian instruction, and for the last 26 seasons, she had served as the head coach of her hometown South Carolina Gamecocks.

Major's accomplishments as listed on her Gamecocksonline.com profile are staggering.

During her time at the helm, South Carolina equestrian won three Overall NCEA National Championships (2005, 2007, and 2015) and three NCEA Hunter Seat Medal National Championships (2005, 2006, and 2007). She also coached the IHSA Individual National Champion in 2004 when Tara Brothers won the title and the NCEA Individual Flat National Champion and NCEA Individual Equitation National Champion in 2008 when Kristen Terebesi swept the Hunt Seat titles.

Major also coached Hunt Seat MVP Kimberly McCormack, NCEA National Rider of the Year Caroline Gute, and 12 1st-team All-Americans in the past 14 seasons.

During her career, Major also became the first Gamecock head coach (regardless of sport) ever to win the SEC in back-to-back seasons in a team sport. She is now joined by South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley in reaching that milestone.

Major was a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and a two-time NCEA National Coach of the Year. She was the first Gamecock head coach (regardless of sport) to win three national titles. She is now joined by Dawn Staley in that regard, as well.

Throughout her tenure wearing garnet and black, Boo Major was a significant supporter of other South Carolina Gamecocks athletic programs and was a well-liked personality all over campus. She plans to stay around the program, athletic department, and university in her retirement.