Former Gamecock Great Steve Taneyhill Passes Away – University of South Carolina Athletics
Steve Taneyhill, a record-setting University of South Carolina quarterback, successful high school coach and area businessman, has passed away at the age of 52.
A native of Altoona, Pa., Taneyhill started four seasons from 1992-95 for the Gamecocks, setting school career records with 753 completions and 62 passing touchdowns and was second with 8,782 passing yards and 7th with a 60.5 completion percentage.
Taneyhill was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. He was named Freshman of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Football News Freshman All-America in 1992.
An exciting player, Taneyhill was known for his iconic mullet hair and his “home run swing” after touchdown passes.
As a junior in 1994, he led Carolina to its first bowl victory in program history, defeating West Virginia in the Carquest Bowl. He was also team captain of the 1995 squad.
He led the Gamecocks in passing in all four seasons, and had eight 300-yard passing games, including six during his senior season. At the time the end of his playing career, he had the two highest passing yardage games, and three of the top four games, in school history – 471 yards vs. Mississippi State in 1995, 451 yards vs. East Carolina in 1994 and 405 yards against Georgia in 1995.
He also owns the school record for single game pass completions and attempts (39 of 58 vs. East Carolina, 1994) and his five touchdown passes vs. Louisiana Tech and Vanderbilt in 1995 are tied for second in school history. His 29 passing touchdowns during the 1995 season still stands as a school record.
As a high school coach, he led Chesterfield High School to the South Carolina state championship three straight seasons, 2007-09. His team was state runners-up in 2006. He was also head coach at Union High School for four seasons (2012-15).
Following his coaching career, Taneyhill purchased and operated businesses in Columbia and Spartanburg.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
