Danny White reveals what guidelines Tennessee will use to hire next baseball coach

Tennessee coach Tony Vitello shocked the baseball world on Wednesday by officially accepting an offer from the San Francisco Giants to become their next manager. He becomes the first ever college baseball head coach to jump directly to Major League Baseball.

His departure left a massive absence at the head of one of college baseball’s premier programs. Following Vitello’s decision, Tennessee pitching coach Frank Anderson was named the program’s interim head coach for the upcoming season. Athletic Director Danny White went in depth on the guidelines that he will be using to determine their next full-time head coach Wednesday afternoon.

“Nothing specific,” White said. “The first data point for me will be hearing more directly from that leadership group of the student athletes and what they’re experiencing right now. A lot of times when you go into a coaching search, it’s because the team isn’t having the success they want to have. We want to make things better.”

“But obviously we’re 18 months from a National Championship and just lost our coach to the big leagues for the first time in the history of college baseball. So we have positive momentum and a good thing going, but I still want to hear their perspective and learn from that and then go into the process. But I don’t have anything particular in mind.”

Vitello helped elevate Tennessee to highest level of college baseball

Over Vitello’s eight-year tenure, the Volunteers accrued a 341-131 record and won a National Championship (2024). He turned Tennessee into a consistent Men’s College World Series fixture, as it made the event three times under Vitello. Prior to his arrival, the program punched their ticket to Omaha just four times.

The head coaching search will be vital in ensuring the program stays at its premier level. Prior to Vitello’s tenure, Todd Raleigh (2008-11) and Dave Serrano (2012-17) struggled at the helm in Knoxville. In that time, the program was 266-275 with no NCAA Tournament appearances. Since then, Tennessee has skyrocketed to one of the best programs in all of college baseball. Making the correct decision when picking a head coach will be extremely important.

Many Tennessee fans/players have campaigned for the program to promote associate head coach Josh Elander to head coach. Elander, who came to the program alongside Vitello in 2018, will certainly be a candidate. Oregon‘s Mark Wasikowski will also be a prominent name to watch in the search, On3’s Chris Low reported.