Tennessee baseball may not be the top seed in its NCAA Tournament regional, but former coach Tony Vitello isn’t counting the Vols out.
Now the manager of the San Francisco Giants, Vitello was asked about Tennessee’s chances of advancing from the Chapel Hill Regional.
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“Obviously they’re capable because of, I think, a lot of their coaching staff, and it’s a talented roster,” Vitello said on May 26. “But it’s also playoff time. Anything can happen.”
No. 25 Tennessee (38-20) is the No. 2 seed in the regional’s double-elimination bracket and plays its first game against No. 3 seed East Carolina (36-22-1) on May 29 (noon ET, ESPNU) at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
No. 4 North Carolina (45-11-1) is the favorite to advance as the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, but Vitello knows this time of year can be unpredictable.
“I’ve broken down those numbers a ton. Just ‘cause you’re hosting doesn’t mean you’re going to win,” Vitello said. “The most recent years there’s been more and more bracket-busters in college baseball, kind of like we’re used to in March Madness where home field doesn’t really play anything into it.”
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The evidence: at least five teams that weren’t No. 1 seeds won a regional in each of the past five NCAA Tournaments, including seven last year.
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander returns to the dugout after taking out pitcher Taylor Tracey (29) in an NCAA college baseball game against and Texas on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander returns to the dugout after taking out pitcher Taylor Tracey (29) in an NCAA college baseball game against and Texas on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander approaches the mound to talk with Tegan Kuhns (21) during the NCAA college baseball game against Texas in Knoxville, Tennessee on May 8, 2026.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee coach Josh Elander and LSU coach Jay Johnson meet with the umpires before a college baseball game between Tennessee and LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee., on April 3, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel, Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander takes out Mark Hindy (7) during an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(News Sentinel Archives)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander and Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn meet during the pregame meeting of an NCAA college baseball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(News Sentinel Archives)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee coach Josh Elander heads back to the dugout during a college baseball game between Tennessee and LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee., on April 3, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander runs out to his spot at third base during the NCAA college baseball game against Nicholls on Feb. 13, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander during an NCAA college baseball game against Nicholls on Feb. 13, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander meets with Nicholls baseball coach Brent Haring and SEC officials in the pregame meeting of an NCAA college baseball game between Tennessee and Nicholls on Feb 13, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee’s Reese Chapman (13) celebrates a home run with Tennessee assistant head coach Josh Elander, left, during a NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional game between Tennessee and Miami Ohio on May 30, 2025.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander and his family are the grand marshals for the WIVK Christmas parade on Dec. 5, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander addresses the media after the Orange & White scrimmage at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on November 9, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander and camp coordinator Ethan Payne at Tennessee baseball’s Orange & White scrimmage at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on November 9, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander after the Tennessee baseball Orange & White scrimmage at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on November 9, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander signals “Vol for Life as he is introduced to the crowd at the NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Oklahoma on November 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander shows his appreciation as he is introduced to the crowd during the NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Oklahoma on November 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander answers questions to the media as he is is formally introduced as Tennessee’s baseball coach on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander with daughters AJ and Maxie as he is formally introduced as Tennessee’s baseball coach on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander is formally introduced as Tennessee’s baseball coach on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander is formally introduced as Tennessee’s baseball coach on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander fields questions from the media after he was formally introduced as Tennessee’s new baseball coach on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee athletics director Danny White welcomes Josh Elander as Tennessee’s new baseball coach during a news conference on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander with his wife Brittany and daughters AJ, Maxie, and Ava at a news conference where he was formally introduced as Tennessee’s baseball coach on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander is formally introduced as Tennessee’s baseball coach by Tennessee athletics director Danny White on October 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee assistant coach Josh Elander during a Tennessee baseball scrimmage on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello and assistant coach Josh Elander at the Tennessee baseball scrimmage on October 21, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander. Tennessee baseball practices at Lindsey Nelson Stadium ahead of the 2025 NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional on May 29, 2025.
(Dan Harralson/Vols Wire)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee assistant head coach Josh Elander during a college baseball game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 9, 2025.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Auburn baseball coach Butch Thompson shakes hands with Tennessee associate head coach Josh Elander after the win over Tennessee in game three of the an NCAA baseball series on May 4, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel, Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander. Tennessee Volunteers baseball versus East Tennessee State on March 18, 2025 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
(Dan Harralson/Vols Wire)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee’s Dalton Bargo celebrating with associate head coach Josh Elander as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run in an NCAA college baseball game against St. Bonaventure on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennesse associate head baseball coach Josh Elander during the NCAA college baseball game against St. Bonaventure on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee third base coach Josh Elander during a Tennessee baseball game against Samford at Lindsey Nelson Stadium at the University of Tennessee on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Jun 24, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Tennessee Volunteers second baseman Christian Moore (1) celebrates with assistant coach Josh Elander after hitting a home run against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
(Dylan Widger, Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Jun 22, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Tennessee Volunteers designated hitter Hunter Ensley (9) celebrates with assistant coach Josh Elander after a home run against the Texas A&M Aggies during the seventh inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
(Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander. Tennessee Volunteers baseball practices ahead of the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Super Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on June 6, 2024.
(Dan Harralson/Vols Wire)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander. Tennessee Volunteers baseball versus the LSU Tigers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 12, 2024.
(Dan Harralson/Vols Wire)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Josh Elander. Tennessee baseball Fall World Series at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tennessee on November 9, 2023.
(Dan Harralson/Vols Wire)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee assistant coach Josh Elander (24) speaks with Tennessee outfielder Hunter Ensley (9) during game one of the NCAA baseball super regional between Tennessee and Southern Mississippi held at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee’s Christian Moore (1) at third base with associate head coach Josh Elander during the NCAA baseball game against Mississippi State in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee Third Base Coach Josh Elander during a game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, May 13, 2022.
(Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Tennessee assistant baseball coach Josh Elander during a scrimmage on October 21, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Elander, Tennessee baseball’s new coach in 2026, replacing Tony Vitello
Auburn baseball coach Butch Thompson shakes hands with Tennessee associate head coach Josh Elander after the win over Tennessee in game three of the an NCAA baseball series on May 4, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
Vitello knows as well as anyone what it takes to succeed in college baseball’s postseason. He led the Vols to unprecedented success in his eight years leading the program, including five super regional berths, three College World Series appearances and a national championship in 2024.
That led to the Giants making him the first MLB manager hired directly from a college program without any experience as a professional coach.
Vitello brought two assistants from Tennessee with him to San Francisco: former UT pitching coach Frank Anderson is the Giants’ director of major league pitching and Quentin Eberhardt is the director of performance after formerly serving as the Vols’ strength and conditioning coach.
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Drew Gilbert, Tennessee’s center fielder in 2021 and 2022, also plays for the Giants.
Vitello was succeeded at Tennessee by Josh Elander, one of his assistants throughout his entire tenure. Elander’s first season included the Vols’ seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Now he’ll try to end it with a deep run.
“Anything can happen and you can wreak a little havoc as long as you’ve got some self-belief,” Vitello said. “… The waves will get even rockier in playoff time, so the teams that can kind of manage that a little bit better, keep their composure in those situations, are going to do a lot better.”
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Tony Vitello believes Tennessee baseball can win NCAA Tournament regional