Photo via Tennessee Athletics
Former Tennessee baseball players were outspoken on Wednesday that the program should hire associate head coach Josh Elander as the program’s full-time head coach after Tony Vitello accepted a position to be the San Fransisco manager position.
While Tennessee’s current players did not publicly speak out about the search, they were just as passionate about wanting Director of Athletics Danny White to stay in-house and promote Elander to head coach.
White did just that Saturday, naming the 34-year old Elander as the 26th head coach in Tennessee baseball history.
“From the outset of this national search, Josh emerged as the undeniable top choice,” Tennessee Director of Athletics Danny White said 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 is as personable as any coach inside the Tennessee baseball program according to those inside it. His ability to build relationships is what makes him an elite recruiter and is one of the main reasons why so many current and former players wanted him to be Vitello’s predecessor.
Tennessee allowed the public to see that strong relationship from the current players on Saturday afternoon, releasing a video from the moment that the current team figured out that Elander is the head coach. Check it out below.
More From RTI: Five Things To Know About New Tennessee Baseball Coach Josh Elander
The hunt continues… pic.twitter.com/Nk9zAgzaZ9
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) October 25, 2025