Every athletic director has battled different headwinds. If nothing else, each era running the Gamecocks has been eventful in its own way.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina baseball coach Ray Tanner knew it was time for change more than a decade ago with his program at its most successful. Tanner could not escape that same feeling as athletic director these past few months even with Gamecock athletics trending upward.

Tanner, 66, said Friday he was stepping down after the current semester, ending a 12-year run for one of the longest-tenured ADs currently in the Southeastern Conference.