USC names the ballpark Founders Park after former AD baseball coach Ray Tanner

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – The ballpark at Founders Park will be renamed when the 2025 season begins, according to the University of South Carolina (USC).

The university announced Friday that it would rename the Gamecock baseball field in Founders Park to “Ray Tanner Field.”

The decision was made possible after a group of Gamecock Athletics donors collectively gave $2.5 million to make the naming event happen. It is the first USC athletic competition floor to be named after a former coach or student-athlete.

Tanner, who served as head baseball coach from 1996 to 2012, led the Gamecocks’ baseball team for 16 seasons. The team made six appearances in the College World Series under Tanner, winning NCAA championships in 2010 and 2011 and finishing as national runners-up in 2002 and 2012.

Under Tanner, the USC baseball program set records for both consecutive NCAA Tournament wins and CWS wins, with 22 and 12 wins, respectively, between 2010 and 2012.

“The achievements I have been a part of at the University of South Carolina are due to the tremendous support of our university administration, Gamecock student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans,” said Tanner. “This is a great gesture from my friends and donors. I am grateful for their commitment to this project. Our baseball program is one of the best in the country and will continue to compete for championships as we begin the Paul Mainieri era at USC.

In 2012, Tanner became the university’s director of athletics. Under his leadership, the athletic department won four national championships: the women’s horse team in 2015 and the women’s basketball team in 2017, 2022 and 2024.

In September, USC announced that Tanner would transition from his role as athletics director to athletics director emeritus and senior advisor to President Michael Amididis.

A ceremony dedicating the field to Tanner will take place February 14-16, 2025 during the opening weekend of the 2025 baseball season.

“Founders Federal Credit Union is pleased to hear that coach Ray Tanner will be honored with Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park,” said Bruce Brumfield, president and CEO of Founders Federal Credit Union. “It is a privilege for Founders Park to be associated in any way with Coach Tanner and his legacy. Coach Tanner has served the University of South Carolina with integrity and dedication, and no one is more deserving of this honor.”

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