McGee's years at the University of South Carolina were arguably his most successful. The university did not previously have a significant history of success. Before McGee's arrival, the Gamecocks had won no national championships.
McGee's goal was to build a foundation to foster athletic success for years to come. Upon his retirement, his accomplishments at the University of South Carolina included:
After winning only one football bowl game previously, the Gamecocks won three straight bowl games, including back-to-back Outback Bowl Championships against Ohio State. Those two victories catapulted the school to consecutive Top 20 national finishes, a first in the history of the program. Included in that stretch (2000–01) were the most wins (17) in consecutive years in the history of the football program.
McGee's ability to attract and hire high-caliber coaches. Among his hires at South Carolina were Curtis Frye (track and field), Lou Holtz (football), Ray Tanner (baseball), Dave Odom (men's basketball) and Steve Spurrier (football). Over McGee's final eight seasons, 13 Gamecock head coaches had earned either National Coach of the Year or Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year accolades.
Overseeing a dramatic increase in the athletics department's overall revenue, rising from approximately $18 million when he first came to South Carolina, to $52.8 million in fiscal year 2004.
The women's track team won the school's first national team championship, claiming the 2002 NCAA Outdoor title.
The baseball team made three straight appearances in the College World Series and was the winningest program in the country over McGee's final five seasons.
In 2000, for the first time in the history of the Southeastern Conference, South Carolina had three athletes named National Athlete of the Year in their respective sports: Kip Bouknight (baseball); Terrence Trammell (men's indoor and outdoor track); and Miki Barber (women's outdoor track).
Winning eight SEC team championships, including baseball (3), women's outdoor track (2), men's basketball (1), softball (1), and women's golf (1).
More than $110 million in facility improvements, including the 18,000-seat Colonial Center and a major expansion of Williams-Brice Stadium.
