Ray Tanner salary: How much does the South Carolina athletic director earn?
Ray Tanner has been the athletic director at South Carolina since 2012. In this position, he has been compensated very well.
Tanner has overseen the growth of the South Carolina athletics program for over a decade and was given a contract extension in 2023 that increased his salary.
How much does Ray Tanner make?
Before signing his contract extension, Ray Tanner was paid $1.02 million annually. However, the South Carolina athletics board approved a new deal for Tanner in 2023.
This new deal pays Tanner an annual salary of $1.175 million. This contract extension keeps him at the helm of South Carolina's athletics program until June of 2026.
South Carolina president Michael Amiridis released a statement following the contract extension. He said:
"Ray Tanner continues to set a high standard and has made Gamecock athletics an essential part of our community and our state. Ray's record of building up our student-athletes while improving the fan experience is second to none."
Tanner's salary places him outside of the top 10 of highest-paid athletic directors in the NCAA. However, it is not by a wide margin as the number 10 director is paid $1.5 million annually.
Before Tanner was promoted to the athletic director position in 2012, he was the head coach of South Carolina's baseball team from 1997 to 2012.
He had a tremendous amount of success with the team, leading his squad to national championships in 2010 and 2011. Now, he does his best to ensure all athletic programs at South Carolina have success.
Ray Tanner will step down as the athletic director at South Carolina
Despite his large salary, it was announced on September 13 that Tanner would step down from his position as the athletic director for South Carolina.
The Board of Trustees announced that he will transition into an advisory role after his successor is hired. He will continue in his current position until a new athletic director is hired.
University president Michael Amridis had this to say about Ray Tanner stepping down:
"During the last two weeks, we have had general discussions and conversations with coach Tanner, the athletics director, and it was his decision to change the position that he has and capacity.
"I was reluctant to accept Ray's decision because of what he has accomplished and what he means to the Gamecock community. Ray serves the university with such dignity and devotion and sets very high standards in developing student-athletes."
Despite relinquishing his current position, the university would be happy to retain the services of Tanner in an advisory role. This way, he will continue to provide valuable assistance to the program.