Ray Tanner inducted to ABCA Hall of Fame

South Carolina athletics director and former head baseball coach Ray Tanner was inducted Friday night to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn.

Tanner was one of four honorees in the Class of 2016 and is the first coach in Gamecocks history to be named to the ABCA Hall of Fame. Induction to the ABCA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the organization.

Alongside Tanner, entering the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2016 is Robert Babb, Augie Garrido and Sam Riggleman.

Tanner worked 25 seasons as a collegiate head coach at South Carolina and NC State as well as seven seasons as an assistant with the Wolfpack. His career record was 1,133-489-3 for a winning percentage of .699 as well as a 738-316 mark in 16 seasons at the helm of South Carolina with a .700 winning percentage, third-highest all-time among SEC coaches.

Tanner completed 16 years as head coach at South Carolina prior to being named AD. He led the Gamecocks to two NCAA championships, a pair of national runner-up finishes, six College World Series appearances, three SEC championships, six SEC Eastern division titles, a SEC tournament crown and 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

He was a three-time National Coach of the Year and three-time SEC Coach of the Year.

For all of his accolades, Tanner’s uniform No. 1 was retired and the street outside Carolina Stadium was renamed in his honor. He was also inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in May 2013.

Tanner also served five stints with USA Baseball, including in 2003 as head coach for the USA National Baseball Team.