Former Tennessee Baseball players call for Josh Elander as next head coach of the Vols

Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon that, after Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello left for the San Francisco Giants, the immediate move would be to focus “on our players and coaching staff while finalizing the next steps in this evolving process.”

For former Tennessee players on social media, there’s no process to it. They made their statement nearly in unison: Associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Josh Elander should replace Vitello as the next head coach of the Vols.

“I look forward to seeing Coach Elander take this role,” Christian Moore wrote. “There isn’t anyone that deserves it more than he does. He is the glue to it all!”

“The next choice couldn’t be any simpler,” Pete Derkay said. “If you want what has been built to continue it has to be (Elander).”

“There is only one correct answer and he is already on staff!” Drew Beam wrote, while sharing a picture of him standing alongside Elander with the 2024 SEC Tournament championship trophy.

“This is THE GUY,” Hunter Ensley posted, tagging White and posting pictures of Elander.

‘If it’s not (Elander), something’s off’

Elander, Tennessee’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, has been on staff under Vitello since August 2017. He was promoted to associate head coach following the 2022 season.

He works with Tennessee’s hitters and catchers and has been a vital role in all the success the Vols have had under Vitello. The native of Round Rock, Texas, played at TCU and started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Arkansas in 2017. 

Blake Burke wrote that Elander “is the guy 100000%” while Camden Sewell added “now there’s only one thing to do,” while posting a picture of Elander.

“Josh Elander needs to be announced as Head man immediately,” Will Heflin said.

Jared Dickey put it more frankly: If the next coach isn’t Elander, something ins wrong.

“Now it’s time for Coach Elander to show what he’s made of,” Dickey wrote. “The glue that holds it all together and never gets enough credit. If it’s not him, something’s off.”

Cal Stark said the same: “Shouldn’t even be a question who our next (head coach) should be. Josh Elander is next and if it’s anyone else than there is a huge problem.”

Tony Vitello took Vols from the bottom of the SEC to the top of college baseball

Vitello over the course of eight seasons took Tennessee from the bottom of the SEC to the top of the college baseball world, winning the 2024 College World Series, going to the College World Series three times and taking the Vols to two other NCAA Super Regionals. 

Tennessee went from 29 wins in its first season under Vitello to 40 or more wins six times, 50 or more wins three times and a program-record 60 wins in 2024. He led the Vols to SEC Tournament championships and SEC regular-season championships in both 2022 and 2024. 

“Congratulations to Tony on this incredible opportunity to lead the San Francisco Giants,” White said in the statement. “We wish him the best as he embarks on this new chapter in his career and thank him for everything he has done to transform Tennessee baseball into a championship program. The growth of baseball on Rocky Top has been remarkable, culminating in the 2024 National Championship.

“We are committed to continuously investing in the program at a championship level across all areas. Furthermore, the upcoming $109 million renovation of Lindsey Nelson Stadium will transform it into one of the premier baseball venues, providing an exceptional experience for the best fans in all of sports.”