KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White has named Josh Elander the 26th head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team on Saturday.
“From the outset of this national search, Josh emerged as the undeniable top choice,” said White. “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 entering his ninth season on staff with the Volunteers after starting as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator on Tony Vitello’s initial staff in 2018. He was promoted to associate head coach following UT’s record-setting 2022 season and has been instrumental in building Tennessee baseball into one of the nation’s elite programs.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity here on Rocky Top,” said Elander. “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.”
During Elander’s eight seasons on staff, he has worked closely with the team’s hitters and catchers while also orchestrating the offense as the third base coach. In that span, the Vols have made six NCAA tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), five straight NCAA Super Regionals (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and three trips to the Men’s College World Series (2021, 2023, 2024) while setting numerous program, SEC and NCAA records along the way. Tennessee has also claimed four combined SEC Titles in that stretch, winning both the regular season and tournament crowns in 2022 and 2024.
UT reached the mountain top by winning the first national championship in program history in 2024, defeating Texas A&M in the Men’s College World Series Finals. The Volunteers became the first SEC team to ever win 60 games in a season, finishing with an incredible 60-13 overall record. UT also became just the fourth program in history to win the SEC regular season crown, the SEC Tournament title and the National Championship in the same year.
Elander has developed a well-deserved reputation as one of the top recruiters in college baseball, helping the Vols assemble eight top-15 recruiting classes according to Perfect Game. Under his watch, the Big Orange have brought in the fifth-ranked class in 2018, the seventh-ranked class in 2019, the 11th-ranked class in 2020, the sixth-ranked class in 2021, the 13th ranked class in 2022, the fourth ranked class in 2023 and back-to-back No. 1 rated classes for 2024 and 2025.
On top of attracting elite talent to Tennessee, Elander has also shown an innate ability to develop players and prepare them for professional baseball, having coached 27 hitters/position players who have gone on to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft during his eight seasons with the Vols, including six first rounders in Drew Gilbert (2022 – Houston Astros – 28th overall), Jordan Beck (2022 – Colorado Rockies – 38th overall), Christian Moore (2024 – Los Angeles Angels – 8th overall), Blake Burke (2024 – Milwaukee Brewers – 34th overall), Gavin Kilen (2025 – San Francisco Giants – 13th overall) and Andrew Fischer (2025 – Milwaukee Brewers – 20th overall).
With Elander’s coaching, UT has evolved into one of the country’s most prolific offensive teams year after year, having ranked in the top 25 nationally in runs scored and home runs during each of the last six seasons, including No. 1 in the nation in runs and homers in 2022 and 2024.
The power numbers have been especially impressive under Elander’s tutelage, as the Vols have finished the year ranked in the top six nationally in home runs every season since 2020 and have hit an NCAA-leading 695 total home runs since the start of the 2021 season.
The 2024 season was one for the history books from a power perspective, as the Big Orange led the nation with a program-record 184 homers, which ranks second in NCAA Division I history, just four shy of LSU’s NCAA record of 188 home runs in 1997. The Vols became the first team in NCAA history to have five players hit 20 or more home runs in a single season, led by Moore’s program-record 34 long balls.
Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, Elander was the volunteer assistant coach of an Arkansas team that went 45-19 and hosted an NCAA Regional in 2017. He helped lead one of the most potent offenses in the SEC as the Razorbacks led the conference and ranked ninth nationally with 83 home runs. The Hogs also ranked among the top three in the SEC in batting average, runs scored, RBI, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, triples and total bases. Elander played a large role in working with Arkansas’ catchers and helped develop Grant Koch into a first-team All-SEC selection. Koch also earned a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National team.
Elander started his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater TCU in 2016, where he was able to help the Horned Frogs reach their third consecutive Men’s College World Series. During his time at TCU, Elander helped mentor sophomore catcher Evan Skoug, who was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award and was invited to join the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Elander had a decorated playing career at TCU from 2010-12, batting .333 with 39 doubles, seven triples, 18 home runs and 114 RBIs over 169 games during his three seasons in Fort Worth. Elander earned Freshman All-America honors from Louisville Slugger and Ping!Baseball in 2010 after batting .356 with 69 hits, 16 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 33 RBIs in 59 games while helping the Horned Frogs earn a spot in Omaha.
After taking over as the Horned Frogs’ starting catcher as a sophomore, Elander earned a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. He started all 62 games and posted career highs with 70 hits, 11 homers and 43 RBIs en route to earning all-conference and Capital One Academic All-America honors in 2012.
Elander was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB Draft and spent parts of four years in the Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks minor league systems. Elander’s best season came in 2013 when he was named the Atlanta Braves Minor League Player of the Year and also won the Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron Award, which is presented annually to the organization’s top hitter in the minor leagues. During his professional career, Elander hit .273 with 21 homers and 135 RBIs through 222 games.
Elander is a native of Round Rock, Texas and earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from TCU in 2016. He and his wife, Brittany, have two daughters, A.J. and Maxie.
MEDIA NOTE: Danny White and Josh Elander will hold a media availability in the north studio at Neyland-Thompson Sports Center Monday, October 27 at 11:30 a.m.
