Elander stays in-house, to name Josh Reynolds as new pitching coach

Josh Elander has been a busy man since taking over the helm of the Tennessee baseball program. His latest move will be the promotion of Josh Reynolds as the program’s pitching coach, taking over for the recently departed Frank Anderson, sources confirmed to Volquest on Wednesday.

Anderson is expected leave Tennessee to join former coach Tony Vitello in San Franscico. Former strength coach Quenton Eberhardt is doing the same while Elander already tabbed Keegan Knoll as his replacement after spending a season as assistant strength coach with the Milwaukee Brewers this season.   

Reynolds joined the Tennessee support staff ahead of the 2025 season as the Director of Pitching Performance. Previously, he was the pitching coach for Cincinnati.

While in Knoxville last season, Reynolds played a role in the growth and development of MLB first round draft picks Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips, second rounders AJ Russell and Tanner Franklin, and third rounder Nate Snead.  

Reynolds helped Cincinnati reach its first 30-win season in 2024 since 2019 as the squad finished fifth in the Big 12 after being voted to finish last in the preseason rankings. Over the course of the season, Reynolds was instrumental in helping All-Big 12 hurlers Christian Mitchell and Nathan Taylor. The Cincinnati staff, overall, boasted an ERA of 5.89 – the lowest since 2019 and nearly a full run lower than in 2023 before his arrival.

Prior to working with the Bearcats, Reynolds served as the Colorado Scouting Director for Prep Baseball report in 2022 and 2023. While at Northwestern from 2016-2022, Reynolds served in roles such as pitching coach, interim head coach and recruiting coordinator. He spent time at Kansas State from 2011-2015 and played a hand in two NCAA Tournament teams during the span.    

Other stops along the way include Evansville, KSU, Northeast Texas Community College after pitching for Division II powerhouse Central Missouri from 1998-2000, where he set the program record of 34 wins in three seasons with two World Series appearances. Following his college stent, Reynolds was a third round selection by the New York Mets in 2000 and also spent time with the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres organizations before moving on in 2004.