Annan was Tanner’s hire after a drawn-out departure for Mark Berson, who coached more than four decades. While Annan was supposed to breathe new life into a program that may have become stagnant, there hasn’t been much traction yet. His best team went 6-9-3, although the current team is 4-0-2 with a tie against Clemson.

South Carolina President Michael Amiridis wants to be clear. Yes, athletics director Ray Tanner is soon transitioning into a new role. But that will only happen after South Carolina finds his replacement — and, according to Amiridis, that search won’t get going until the end of November.

South Carolina is on the hunt for a new athletic director after it was announced during a Board of Trustees meeting on Friday that the veteran administrator Ray Tanner plans to step down. Tanner, 66, will transition to an advisory role with the university president once his successor is hired.