Tennessee officially hires Josh Elander as head baseball coach, replacing Tony Vitello

Tennessee has hired Josh Elander as its next head baseball coach, the school announced. He will replace Tony Vitello.

Tennessee previously announced Frank Anderson as the interim head coach after Vitello left to become the San Francisco Giants’ manager. The program also interviewed Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall on Friday, Volquest reported.

Vitello previously served as Tennessee’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. Now, he’ll get the promotion to head coach with support from current and former players, as well as donors.

“From the outset of this national search, Josh emerged as the undeniable top choice,” said Tennessee athletics director Danny White 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 Josh’s guidance!”

Elander played for Jim Schlossnagle at TCU from 2010-12, and Vitello joined the Horned Frogs as an assistant coach in 2011. He became an all-conference catcher and the Atlanta Braves later selected him in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft. He also spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks system before finishing his degree at TCU in 2016 and later pivoting to coaching.

Elander then began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2016 as a student assistant. He then joined Arkansas as a volunteer assistant in 2017, reuniting with Vitello, and was part of Vitello’s initial coaching staff in 2018. He has been on staff since, meaning the 2026 season will mark Elander’s ninth on Rocky Top.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity here on Rocky Top,” Elander said in a statement. “I’m really happy for our players to continue building on what we’ve already built here. The hunt continues, and we’re still excited. Love this place and these people. So thankful for the best that’s yet to come.”

Josh Elander was a valued member of Tony Vitello’s coaching staff as he gets ready to succeed his now-former boss. During Vitello’s time at Tennessee, the Volunteers had a 341-131 overall record with the Vols, including a 125-85 mark in conference play to go with two conference regular season titles and a conference tournament crown. They also won their first-ever College World Series in 2024 after making it to Omaha a year earlier.