A new chapter in Tennessee baseball is about to be written, and it starts with Josh Elander stepping into the spotlight.
After years of serving as a key figure behind the scenes, Elander now takes the reins as head coach following Tony Vitello’s departure to manage the San Francisco Giants. It’s a significant moment for the Vols, who have built a strong foundation under Vitello - and Elander has been a major part of that rise. Since joining the staff in 2018, first as an assistant and recruiting coordinator and later as associate head coach, he’s helped shape the program into a national contender.
Now, the keys are his.
But not everyone is sold - at least not yet. A recent ranking of SEC head coaches by Chris Phillips of SEC Unfiltered placed Elander dead last among the conference’s 16 skippers.
The reasoning? Lack of head coaching experience.
“Do I think Josh Elander finishes at 16? No, I do not,” Phillips said. “But here’s the reality: he’s never been a head coach before.”
It’s a fair point on paper. In a league as stacked as the SEC, where seasoned coaches and national titles are the norm, experience does matter.
But let’s not ignore what Elander brings to the table. He’s been in the trenches of SEC baseball for years.
He’s helped recruit and develop the kind of talent that’s made Tennessee a powerhouse. And he’s been Vitello’s right-hand man during one of the most successful stretches in program history.
So while he may be unproven as a head coach, he’s far from unprepared.
The real evaluation will come on the field - and that starts soon. Tennessee opens its season this Friday, Feb. 13, with a three-game series against Nicholls. From there, the Vols host UNC Asheville the following Tuesday, followed by another weekend set against Kent State and a midweek matchup with Bellarmine.
Those early games will offer Elander a chance to settle in and get a feel for the role. But the first real litmus test comes at the end of the month, when Tennessee travels to Arlington, Texas, for the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series. There, the Vols will square off with UCLA, Arizona State, and Virginia Tech - three programs that can punch back.
It’s a baptism by fire, no doubt. But it’s also a chance for Elander to show he’s ready for the big chair. The SEC might be the toughest conference in college baseball, but Tennessee has the pieces to compete - and Elander knows this roster inside and out.
Whether or not he stays at No. 16 in the rankings is irrelevant. What matters now is how the Vols respond with a new voice leading the charge. And if Elander’s past contributions are any indication, Tennessee might be in better hands than some think.