Josh Elander has hired Craig Bell to the Tennessee baseball staff as director of program development, UT announced Dec. 18.
“Craig, an SEC veteran and national champion, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our program,” Elander said in a school release. “His diverse baseball background, encompassing scouting, player development, coaching and special assignments in professional baseball, makes him an invaluable asset. More importantly, his proven track record as a winner and his understanding of the demands of competing and succeeding in the SEC make him an ideal addition to our team.”
Bell brings SEC knowledge and pro experience to Elander’s first staff. He most recently worked in a special assistant role with the San Diego Padres.
He spent 15 seasons working at Florida from 2008-22 on coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s staff. Florida made seven College World Series appearances and won the 2017 national title while Bell was on staff. The Gators also won five SEC regular-season titles and reached the NCAA Tournament in all 15 of Bell’s seasons.
Bell was the supervising area scout for the Seattle Mariners from 2007-07. He oversaw Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Elander was hired as the Tennessee coach on Oct. 25 following Tony Vitello’s departure to be the San Francisco Giants manager on Oct. 22.
Elander’s three full-time assistants are Chuck Jeroloman, Josh Reynolds and Ross Kivett.
He retained Kivett and appointed him the recruiting coordinator. Kivett is in his second stint at Tennessee. He rejoined UT following the 2024 season as an assistant coach after three seasons at Houston, where he ascended to the associate head coach position. He spent four years at Tennessee as the volunteer assistant coach from 2017-19.
Elander hired Jeroloman from Florida and made him the associate head coach, which Elander was on Vitello’s staff. Jeroloman has spent the past six seasons at Florida, where he was promoted to associate head coach on O’Sullivan’s staff after the 2024 season. Jeroloman and Elander have a longstanding relationship as Jeroloman was a volunteer assistant coach at TCU in 2012, Elander’s junior season with the Horned Frogs.
He promoted Reynolds to the pitching coach position following Frank Anderson departing for an unspecified position with the Giants and Vitello. Reynolds spent the 2025 season as the director of pitching performance,
UT had a vacancy on its staff to fill after Reynolds was promoted, which Bell filled.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.