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

The university announced Friday that it will give the Gamecock ballpark at Founders Park a new name: “Ray Tanner Field.”

The decision was made possible after a group of Gamecock Athletics donors gave a total of $2.5 million to make the naming happen. It is the first USC track and field competition surface named after a former coach or student-athlete.

Serving as head baseball coach from 1996 to 2012, Tanner led the Gamecocks’ baseball team for 16 seasons. The team has made six appearances in the College World Series under Tanner’s leadership, winning the NCAA championship in 2010 and 2011 and finishing as national runner-up in 2002 and 2012.

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

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

Tanner became the university’s Director of Athletics in 2012. Under her leadership, the athletic department has won four national championships: the women’s equestrian team in 2015 and the women’s basketball team in 2017, 2022 and 2024.

In September, USC announced that Tanner would move from his role as Director of Athletics to become Director of Athletics Emeritus and Senior Advisor to President Michael Amiridis.

The ceremony to dedicate the field to Tanner is scheduled for the opening weekend of the 2025 baseball season, February 14-16, 2025.

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

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