ESPN analyst and former Tennessee baseball player Chris Burke gave his full-throated endorsement to associate head coach Josh Elander to replace Tony Vitello, who accepted the San Francisco Giants manager position.

“My hat would be in the arena for Josh Elander. My stamp of approval is on Josh Elander and (UT pitching coach) Frank Anderson,” Burke said on the “Tony Basilio Show” on Oct. 22.

“(Athletics director) Danny White’s dilemma will be that one of the most famous coaches in the history of the school just left. If you replace him with anybody but the current staff, you’re going to have your hands full to not be in the midst of a very tough sell.”

Burke said the Tennessee vacancy is “a top three job” in college baseball because of the program’s facilities, resources, coach pay, fan support and recent success. But he thinks Elander is the best option to succeed Vitello.

“Whoever that guy is (that replaces Vitello), he’s going to be a tough sell to the fan base if it’s not Josh and Frank,” Burke said. “One of the things you’ve got to give Tony so much credit for is his ability with which his staff has operated since the day he arrived. So he’s got a robust staff, No. 1. He’s got continuity. And Tony was a fantastic leader as far as empowering people to do their job.”

Elander has been the hitting coach at Tennessee since the 2018 season. He is a powerhouse recruiter and coach, who knows the program, the roster and the recruits.

Elander makes sense to tab as the next Tennessee coach. Former Vols agree, including Burke, and they voiced their support for Elander on social media.

“There are pieces of Tony’s presence that are irreplaceable. But from a day-to-day standpoint, I think that program was so stable, it wouldn’t shock me if the players find a new normal quicker than most because of how stable all the pieces are around that program have been over the years,” Burke said. “And that starts with Josh Elander and Frank Anderson. That’s assuming that none of them are going with him (to the Giants).”

Is Chris Burke interested in replacing Tony Vitello?

Burke was a two-time All-American and the 2001 SEC Player of the Year at Tennessee, and he was a six-year MLB veteran.

Burke reacted with sadness of Vitello’s departure from Tennessee, although he was happy for his next move. Burke has covered Tennessee games for ESPN and SEC Network, and he’s developed a strong relationship with Vitello.

“It’s a bummer as a Vol. It’s a bummer as a guy who makes my living calling college baseball (games),” Burke said. “Man, that guy was so good for the sport and amazing for our university. He has elevated the program to places very few imagined were even possible.”

Burke could surface a potential candidate to replace Vitello. He had interest in the job in 2011 when Dave Serrano got it and again in 2017 when Vitello was hired.

But when asked on the Tony Basilio Show if he was interested in the job this time, Burke said, “I would not do that unless for some unknown reason the current staff was not next group.”

Elander has been integral in Vitello’s transformation of the Vols program from the beginning. He was on the UT staff for the College World Series teams in 2021, 2023 and 2024, including a national title.

He has been the UT hitting coach since 2017 and was appointed the associate head coach in 2022. He is an elite recruiter and has coached the best offenses in Tennessee history, including the 184-homer team in the 2024 season.

Elander was also an assistant on TCU’s 2016 team that made the College World Series and a strong 2017 Arkansas team alongside Vitello.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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