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Steve Taneyhill
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Stephen Thomas Taneyhill (July 21, 1973 – December 15, 2025) was an American businessman, college football player and high school football coach. He is most known for being the star quarterback for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 1992 to 1995, where he broke the school record for passing touchdowns and led the school to its first-ever bowl victory in the 1995 Carquest Bowl.[1] In 2006, he was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.[2] For more than a decade, Taneyhill coached football at multiple South Carolina high schools, winning several state titles.[3][4] He also owned several businesses in the state, including three bars in Five Points and Columbia, and a restaurant in Spartanburg.[1]
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Stephen Thomas Taneyhill[5] was born on July 21, 1973,[6] to Art and Susan Taneyhill.[7] His father was a star basketball coach at Altoona High School who won two national championships.[8] While at Altoona High School, Taneyhill played both basketball and football. As a point guard, Taneyhill scored 1,400 points during his time to set a record at the school. As a quarterback in football, he threw for over 5,200 yards.[7]
College career
[edit]Many teams reached out to Taneyhill to express interest in signing him,[7] including the Miami Hurricanes, the Florida State Seminoles, and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He came closest to signing with Alabama, though he would later switch to playing with the South Carolina Gamecocks. The switch has been credited to the Alabama coaching staff's comparison of Taneyhill to Alabama alumni Joe Namath and Carolina's proximity and opportunities.[9][6]
Taneyhill came to the University of South Carolina as an ambitious freshman, claiming that he would be the starter in April during the off-season[10] despite competition from a senior and a redshirt freshman.[8] Eventually, after a 0-5 start to the season, Taneyhill was named the starter.[11] After a rough initial performance where he had to be replaced by senior Wright Mitchell during the second quarter of a game,[12] he led the team to a 5–1 record[11] and was named Freshman of the Year by Sports Illustrated[13] and listed on the Football News Freshman All-American Team.[14]
During his junior year Taneyhill threw for 2,259 yards and led the Gamecocks to a bowl game.[13] In the 1995 Carquest Bowl, South Carolina beat West Virginia in their first ever bowl game win.[14]
In a preview for Taneyhill's final game with the Gamecocks, Josh Peters of The State described him as "if not [...] the best quarterback in USC history, certainly [...] the most unforgettable."[15] He was noted for his unique appearance, sporting long hair and an earring.[10] His hair led to a dispute at a local bar when he first arrived on campus, though he was allowed to keep it at its length throughout time with head coach Sparky Woods.[6] Taneyhill was forced to cut his ponytail when Woods was replaced by Brad Scott in 1994.[13]
As a USC Gamecocks quarterback, Taneyhill compiled 8,782 passing yards, completing 753 passes. He threw 62 touchdown passes in his career. His amount of completions and passing touchdowns are records at South Carolina.[14] He also set university records for single-game passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense in a win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.[16] He was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.[2][17]
Professional career
[edit]Taneyhill decided to approach his entrance into professional football much more patiently than when he entered his college career.[18] He went undrafted and spent two seasons on-and-off the Jaguars practice squad during the 1996 and 1997 off-season.[19][20] He later spent time with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football[21] and the New York CityHawks of the Arena Football League in 1997.[22]
Coaching career
[edit]Taneyhill began coaching at Cambridge Academy private school in 1998, coming into a team that was struggling to keep the members necessary to play eight-man football.[23] He had kept all of his playbooks from each team he had played for since the seventh grade to be used during games.[24] During his time with the high school, Taneyhill led the team to back-to-back eight-man championships in 2000 and 2001.[25] The high school shut down in 2003 due to decreased attendance, surprising Taneyhill.[26] In between head coaching jobs, he served as passing-game coordinator for West Ashley High School under head coach Fred Hamilton in 2004.[27]
Taneyhill joined Chesterfield High School in 2005 as their head coach.[28] Before he joined the team, Chesterfield had only won one game after two seasons.[29] He led the Chesterfield High School football team to the South Carolina state championship, where they lost to Carvers Bay.[30] The team went on to win three consecutive titles from 2007 to 2009.[31]
Taneyhill left Chesterfield to assume the head coaching spot for the Union County High School Yellow Jackets in 2012.[31][32] He made it to a state title appearance in his first season with the team.[33] Taneyhill was let go as head coach of Union County High School after four seasons with the team in 2015.[34]
Personal life and death
[edit]While at South Carolina in 1993, Taneyhill was arrested for underage drinking after a game against the Georgia Bulldogs. The arrest sparked outrage among students, leading to a "Free Taneyhill" movement.[13] He pleaded guilty to the crime, and spent 30 hours doing community service with children to get the charge expunged from his record.[35]
In 2016, Taneyhill purchased the Five Points, Columbia bar Group Therapy, and renamed it "Steve Taneyhill's Group Therapy". Taneyhill had ownership of Prime Restaurant and Whiskey Lounge located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, open in the summer of 2022.[34] He announced that he had purchased Breakers Bar and Grill and Breakers Live in the summer of 2023.[1]
Taneyhill died after a battle with insulinoma, a rare malignant cancer, on December 15, 2025, at the age of 52.[36][33] He was found dead in his home in Spartanburg.[37]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Trainor, Chris (July 10, 2023). "'Let's SHAKE THIS PLACE': Gamecocks legend Steve Taneyhill buys more Five Points bars". The State. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Taneyhill relishes role as hall of famer". The Augusta Chronicle. July 8, 2006. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ Yanity, Pete (January 11, 2016). "Taneyhill Out As Union County Head Coach". WSPA 7News CBS. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Ken. "Taneyhill: South Carolina Football's First Popular Steve". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ Colninger, David (December 15, 2025). "Legendary Gamecock quarterback Steve Taneyhill dies at 52". The Post and Courier. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Reid, Scott M. (September 1, 1993). "Taneyhill: QB leads South Carolina against Georgia". The Atlanta Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Scoppe, Rick (August 29, 1993). "Taneyhill". The Greenville News. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Hembree, Mike (November 5, 1992). "Young Man in a Flurry". The Greenville News. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Scoppe, Rick (August 29, 1993). "Recruitment". The Greenville News. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Newton, David (October 24, 1992). "Born to be cocky". The State. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Hyams, Jimmy (December 15, 1992). "S. Carolina QB is top SEC rookie on offense". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Geliske, Karl (September 13, 1992). "Gamecocks continue search for the 'right' quarterback". The Herald. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Peter, Josh (November 17, 1995). "What a long, strange trip it's been". The State. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Former Gamecock Great Steve Taneyhill Passes Away". University of South Carolina. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Peter, Josh (November 17, 1995). "Taneyhill's final game nears". The State. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Collier, Joe Guy (January 19, 1996). "South Profiles". The Mobile Press. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Former South Carolina standout QB Steve Taneyhill dies at 52". ESPN. Associated Press. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Taneyhill Takes More Patient Approach". Indian River Press Journal. Associated Press. February 13, 1996. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Jaguars cut QB Taneyhill". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. August 20, 1996. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Transactions | Football". The Plain Dealer. April 23, 1997. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Deals | World League". The Ledger. May 16, 1997. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Taneyhill picked up by Arena team". Anderson Independent-Mail. July 23, 1997. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Deal, Greg (April 16, 1998). "Taneyhill's desire to coach not just another passing fancy". The Index-Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Kennedy, Ann (August 20, 1998). "Former USC quarterback roaming sidelines as coach". The Index-Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Stone, Michael (September 7, 2004). "Young continues to build success at Cambridge". The Index-Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Cox, Ron (May 11, 2003). "Loss of Cougars affects community". The Index-Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Wiseman, Steve (August 29, 2004). "Taneyhill passing along his knowledge". The State. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Seitz, Danny (August 25, 2005). "5 Questions with Steve Taneyhill". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ McLaurin, Jim (March 2, 2005). "Chesterfield to hire Taneyhill as coach". The State. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "Carvers Bay, Lake View win Class A titles". The Greenville News. November 25, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Taneyhill named new coach at Union County". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. February 15, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Melton, Kevin (February 14, 2012). "Former Gamecocks QB Taneyhill set to coach Union". The Herald. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Bezjak, Lou (December 15, 2025). "Gamecock QB great Steve Taneyhill has died. Here's what we know". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Wilkinson, Jeff (June 30, 2016). "Former USC quarterback Steve Taneyhill buys Group Therapy bar". The State. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ Boclair, David (September 3, 1993). "Taneyhill pleads guilty". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Hughes, Morgan (December 15, 2025). "Steve Taneyhill celebration of life in Columbia's Five Points. Here's when". The State. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ Chance, Destiny (December 15, 2025). Former Gamecock quarterback Steve Taneyhill dies at his Spartanburg County home, coroner confirms. WYFF (news broadcast). South Carolina. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
Steve Taneyhill
View on GrokipediaEarly life and high school career
Family background
Steve Taneyhill was born on July 21, 1973, in Altoona, Pennsylvania.[8][1] Taneyhill grew up in a family deeply immersed in competitive sports, particularly basketball. His father, Art Taneyhill, was a renowned high school coach who led the Altoona High School girls' basketball team to four PIAA state championships and two USA Today national titles, with his daughter Debbie starring as a key player on those championship squads.[9][10] Art's coaching success created a competitive athletic environment at home, exposing young Steve to high-level sports from an early age.[11] This family legacy extended to football influences as well, with Art actively supporting Steve's development by taking him to weekly training sessions at Building II starting in seventh grade, where he worked with Coach John Franco to hone his quarterback skills.[2] Additionally, his sister Debbie later became the head women's basketball coach at George Mason University, further embedding coaching and athletic excellence within the Taneyhill household.[11][2] This upbringing in a sports-oriented family laid the groundwork for Taneyhill's own pursuits in both basketball and football.Athletic achievements at Altoona High
At Altoona Area High School in Pennsylvania, Steve Taneyhill emerged as a standout multi-sport athlete, earning all-state honors in both football and basketball during his high school career.[2] As the son of longtime basketball coach Art Taneyhill, he benefited from a family environment steeped in athletic tradition, which helped cultivate his competitive drive from an early age.[11] In football, Taneyhill started every game as quarterback during his junior year in 1990, leading the team to a 10-2 record while engineering four fourth-quarter comebacks and throwing for more than 2,000 yards.[9] His leadership and arm strength earned him recognition as one of Pennsylvania's top prep quarterbacks, contributing to his all-state selection and solidifying his reputation as a clutch performer.[2] Taneyhill's basketball prowess was equally impressive, where he starred as a point guard and still holds the Altoona Area High School record for career scoring.[2] During the 1990-91 season, he guided the team to its first appearance in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship finals in 27 years, breaking a long drought and earning all-state accolades for his scoring and playmaking abilities. These accomplishments across both sports highlighted his versatility and statewide impact, later contributing to his 2010 induction into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame.[2]College career
University of South Carolina tenure
Steve Taneyhill, a highly touted quarterback from Altoona High School in Pennsylvania, committed to the University of South Carolina in 1992 after receiving assurances from head coach Sparky Woods that he would have an opportunity to compete for playing time as a freshman.[9] Despite initial concerns about redshirting, Taneyhill arrived on campus and earned the starting role midway through the 1992 season, replacing senior John Barton after the Gamecocks started 0-5.[12][13] Over his four-year tenure from 1992 to 1995, Taneyhill started 40 consecutive games, guiding the Gamecocks through a period of transition in their first years as full members of the Southeastern Conference. The team posted records of 5-6 in 1992 and 5-6 in 1993 under Woods, and improved to 7-5 in 1994 (including bowl) and 4-6-1 in 1995 under head coach Brad Scott, who took over prior to the 1994 season.[2][14][15][16] Taneyhill's leadership culminated in the 1994 season's Carquest Bowl (played January 1995), where South Carolina defeated West Virginia 24-21 for the program's first bowl victory, with Taneyhill earning MVP honors.[17][2] Taneyhill's on-field presence was as distinctive as his contributions, marked by a long mullet hairstyle that flowed from beneath his helmet and became a symbol of his era with the Gamecocks.[12] His brash personality and celebratory antics, such as mimicking home run swings after big plays, injected energy into the team and its fans, helping to build excitement around a program seeking to establish itself in the SEC.[9][18][19]Statistical accomplishments
During his four seasons as the starting quarterback for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks from 1992 to 1995, Steve Taneyhill amassed 8,380 yards of total offense, completing 753 of 1,245 pass attempts for 8,782 passing yards and 62 touchdown passes, a school record at the time.[20][21] Taneyhill's statistical progression demonstrated marked improvement over his college career, particularly in completion percentage, passing efficiency, and touchdown production. As a true freshman in 1992, he completed 86 of 162 passes (53.1%) for 1,272 yards and 7 touchdowns with 6 interceptions in 9 games, a performance that earned him Sports Illustrated's Freshman Player of the Year honors.[22][23] In 1993, his sophomore year, he improved to 149 completions on 291 attempts (51.2%) for 1,930 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions across 11 games.[22] By his junior season in 1994, Taneyhill posted career highs in efficiency with 231 of 367 passes completed (62.9%) for 2,259 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 11 games.[22] His senior year in 1995 marked his pinnacle, as he completed 261 of 389 attempts (67.1%) for 3,094 yards, a career-best 29 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions over 11 regular-season games.[22]| Year | Completions/Attempts | Completion % | Passing Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 86/162 | 53.1 | 1,272 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| 1993 | 149/291 | 51.2 | 1,930 | 6 | 14 | 11 |
| 1994 | 231/367 | 62.9 | 2,259 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| 1995 | 261/389 | 67.1 | 3,094 | 29 | 9 | 11 |
| Career (reg. season) | 727/1,209 | 60.1 | 8,555 | 61 | 37 | 42 |
