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Tennessee’s Josh Elander (Photo by Eddie Kelly)
Tennessee didnâ€t look far to find Tony Vitello’s successor. The Volunteers turned to the architect of their recruiting success and the steady hand who helped build the programâ€s modern identity, promoting associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Josh Elander to head coach following Vitelloâ€s historic departure for the San Francisco Giants, the program announced Saturday morning.
“From the outset of this national search, Josh emerged as the undeniable top choice,†Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a statement. “His relentless commitment has helped transform Tennessee baseball into a powerhouse, and we are proud to have him as our next head coach on Rocky Top. His influence inspires excellence in every aspect of our program and we look forward to continuing our quest for championships on the diamond under Joshâ€s guidance.â€
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For Tennessee, the move represents both continuity and conviction. Elander has been at the center of the Vols†rise for eight seasons, helping to shape the roster, culture and offense that powered Tennesseeâ€s ascent into one of the nationâ€s most explosive and successful programs.
The connection between Vitello and Elander traces back more than a decade. Elander was a standout catcher at TCU from 2010-12, where Vitello joined the coaching staff beginning in 2011. A brief pro career followed, but the relationship resurfaced in 2017 when Elander reunited with Vitello as an assistant at Arkansas. When Vitello landed the Tennessee job that offseason, Elander followed, becoming a foundational piece of the transformation to come.
His impact was immediate and lasting. Elander quickly emerged as one of college baseballâ€s premier hitting minds and talent evaluators. Seventeen Tennessee hitters have been drafted within the first five rounds under his direction, including six first-rounders: Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck, Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer.
That success earned him a promotion to associate head coach in 2022 and placed him increasingly at the forefront of Tennesseeâ€s future. Internally, he has long been viewed as the natural heir to Vitello. He has deep ties to the program, a pulse on the locker room and the trust of a roster built on relationships he helped cultivate.
Players, fans and alums made their stance clear in the aftermath of Vitelloâ€s departure: continuity mattered, and Elander was the steward who could preserve it.
With the Vols coming off the most successful era in program history and holding one of the most star-studded recruiting pipelines in the country, the hire is also a stabilizing one. Elander has relationships with the next wave of Tennessee talent and credibility with high school prospects who chose Knoxville because of the culture and development he helped build. Keeping that intact was a priority.
The Volunteers†2026 class is stacked with early-round draft-caliber commitments, including outfielder Trevor Condon, two-way talent Cole Koeninger, shortstop Landon Thome, righthander Gary Morse, catcher Sean Dunlap and outfielder AJ Curry. The 2027 group may be even more impressive, as three of the top 10 high school prospects in the country, shortstops Dylan Seward (No. 1), Max Hemenway (No. 3) and Leo Nockley (No. 9), are already verbally committed to the Vols.
“Iâ€m incredibly grateful for the opportunity here on Rocky Top,†he said. “Iâ€m really happy for our players to continue building on what weâ€ve already built here. The hunt continues, and weâ€re still excited. Love this place and these people. So thankful for the best thatâ€s yet to come.â€
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