Josh Elander will be the 26th head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team.
Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White made the announcement Saturday, saying from the outset of the national search, Josh became the “undeniable top choice.”
Vitello led the Vols to their first-ever national championship in baseball in 2024 and will become the first collegiate head coach to go straight to a managerial position in Major League Baseball.
“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,” White stated. “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 approaching his ninth season on staff with the Volunteers after starting out as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator on Tony Vitello’s initial staff in 2018.
Close
HOOVER, AL – May 26, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Infielder Christian Moore #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers with the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship trophy after the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament Championship game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Hoover Met Stadium in Hoover, AL. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – June 06, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice before the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament Super Regional between the Evansville Purple Aces and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – June 09, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Catcher Cannon Peebles #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers with the 2024 Super Regional Champion trophy after game three of the 2024 NCAA Baseball Super Regionals between the Evansville Purple Aces and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE. – June 16, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2024 Baseball College World Series game between the UNC Tar heels and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE – June 24, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2024 Baseball College World Series Championship game three between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE – June 24, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2024 Baseball College World Series Championship game three between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE. – June 24, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers and family after the 2024 Baseball College World Series Championship game three between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – February 14, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Hofstra Pride and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Ryan Beatty/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – April 05, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Catcher Cannon Peebles #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – May 03, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – May 04, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – May 10, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander with the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
HOOVER, AL – May 21, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Infielder Ariel Antigua #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
HOOVER, AL – May 26, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Infielder Christian Moore #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers with the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship trophy after the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament Championship game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Hoover Met Stadium in Hoover, AL. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – June 06, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice before the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament Super Regional between the Evansville Purple Aces and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – June 09, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Catcher Cannon Peebles #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers with the 2024 Super Regional Champion trophy after game three of the 2024 NCAA Baseball Super Regionals between the Evansville Purple Aces and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE. – June 16, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2024 Baseball College World Series game between the UNC Tar heels and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE – June 24, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2024 Baseball College World Series Championship game three between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE – June 24, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2024 Baseball College World Series Championship game three between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
OMAHA, NE. – June 24, 2024 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers and family after the 2024 Baseball College World Series Championship game three between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Ian Cox/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – February 14, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Hofstra Pride and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Ryan Beatty/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – April 05, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Catcher Cannon Peebles #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – May 03, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – May 04, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN – May 10, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander with the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
HOOVER, AL – May 21, 2025 – Associate Head Coach Josh Elander and Infielder Ariel Antigua #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Hoover Met in Hoover, AL. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
The team promoted him to associate head coach following UT’s “record-setting” 2022 season.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity here on Rocky Top,” Elander stated. “I’m really happy for our players to continue building on what we’ve already built here. The hunt continues, and we’re still excited. Love this place and these people. So thankful for the best that’s yet to come.”
University of Tennessee Knoxville
While on staff, the newly-named coach has worked closely with the team’s hitters and catchers while orchestrating the offense as the third base coach.
Within that span, the Vols have made:
Six NCAA tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)Five straight NCAA Super Regionals (2021-2025)Three trips to the Men’s College World Series (2021, 2023, 2024)Four combined SEC Titles – winning both the regular season and tournament crowns in 2022 and 2024
Read more about the new coach on the UT Sports’ blog.