Few programs in college baseball have changed more in the past decade than Tennessee under Tony Vitello.
When he took over in 2017, the Volunteers were fighting for relevance in the SEC. Today, they are one of the sport’s true powerhouses, fueled by elite talent, modern facilities and one of the most passionate fan bases in the country.
Vitello built it all. He led Tennessee to three trips to Omaha, delivered the program’s first national championship in 2024 and helped rally enough booster support to turn it into one of the nation’s most well-funded and ambitious programs. The Volunteers became a destination for top recruits and a model for how energy and vision can reshape a brand.
Now, with Vitello set to take over as manager of the San Francisco Giants, Tennessee faces a defining moment. Pitching coach Frank Anderson has been named interim head coach, though athletic director Danny White left it unclear whether Anderson will remain in that role through the 2026 season. The ambiguity casts a seemingly unnecessary cloud of uncertainty over a juggernaut program that had an internal assistant structure, which includes associate head coach Josh Elander, ready to take over and thrive after years under Vitello.
The Tennessee job now sits among the sport’s elite, offering SEC resources, top-of-market pay, national recruiting reach and the expectation of championships. The following list reflects names that sources believe Tennessee could be interested in pursuing, not an indication of any coach’s current level of interest or engagement.
Below is a look at potential candidates to replace Vitello, based on conversations with coaches, agents and industry sources since news broke that he was the leading candidate for the Giants job.
Candidates are listed alphabetically.
Frank Anderson, Interim Head Coach, Tennessee
Anderson served as Oklahoma State’s head coach from 2004-12 and has held various assistant roles dating back to 1984. He’s widely regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in college baseball, known for his ability to develop fastballs and refine command. Over his career, Anderson has coached 103 pitchers who have been selected in the MLB Draft, including 10 first-round picks, four of them at Tennessee. The Volunteers have had at least three pitchers drafted in each of the past four years, including five in 2025.
Anderson was named interim head coach following Vitello’s departure. While sources indicated it’s unlikely he will take over the role full time, they did not completely rule out the possibility, thus justifying his inclusion. At minimum, his experience, institutional knowledge and respect within the program make him a stabilizing presence during the transition.
Erik Bakich, Head Coach, Clemson
Bakich has won 133 games in three seasons at Clemson and was a game away from Omaha in 2024, continuing the steady rise that earned him a contract extension through 2030. The deal boosted his salary to $1.4 million annually, placing him among the nation’s top 10 highest-paid coaches at the time. Widely regarded as an advanced player developer, Bakich has the Tigers positioned for sustained success. He is firmly rooted at Clemson, but Tennessee’s resources and national profile make this the kind of job that could change things quickly if serious interest ever emerged.
Josh Elander, Assistant Coach, Tennessee
Vitello’s relationship with Elander dates back to their time at TCU, where Elander played from 2010-12 and Vitello coached from 2011-13. After a brief pro career, Elander reunited with Vitello at Arkansas in 2017 and followed him to Knoxville that offseason. Since then, he has become one of college baseball’s premier hitting coaches and recruiters. Seventeen of his Tennessee hitters have been drafted within the first five rounds, including six first-rounders: Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck, Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer.
Elander’s knack for identifying talent and developing hitters has been central to Tennessee’s rise into a national power. Promoted to associate head coach in 2022, he’s viewed internally as a steady hand who could sustain the program’s identity while adding his own touch. He has strong backing from fans, players and alums to earn a full-time promotion—a move that would make plenty of sense given his role in shaping Tennessee’s success.
White said Wednesday that he wants Elander to “be a candidate” for the full-time role. Plainly, this move makes the most sense for the stability of the program.
Dan Fitzgerald, Head Coach, Kansas
Fitzgerald, 48, has quickly become one of college baseball’s most respected figures, earning national attention for the speed and sustainability of Kansas’ rebuild. He took over ahead of the 2023 season and has since turned one of the Big 12’s least-resourced programs into a consistent postseason contender. In 2025, Kansas set a program record with 20 conference wins and tied its second-highest overall total at 43, marking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
Fitzgerald’s success stems from an aggressive, adaptive approach to roster building, centered on identifying talent in the junior college market and developing players in unconventional ways. That strategy has helped Kansas compete against programs with deeper NIL pockets and greater scholarship flexibility. His player-development background and forward-thinking methods have also drawn interest from professional circles, where his balance of evaluation and culture-building would translate well to any level.
Sources have indicated to Baseball America that Fitzgerald is a candidate to watch closely.
Link Jarrett, Head Coach, Florida State
A rocky start in Tallahassee has given way to two outstanding seasons for Jarrett, a Florida State alum and torchbearer for legendary coach Mike Martin, for whom he played in the early 1990s. Jarrett guided the Seminoles to the College World Series semifinals in 2024, winning 49 games, then reached a super regional in 2025 with 42 victories. He’s a proven winner in an era when sustained success is increasingly difficult to achieve.
Jarrett’s deep ties to Florida State make him a difficult pull, but Tennessee is in search of a home run hire to follow Vitello, and Jarrett would certainly fit that bill. His track record of excellence dates back to his time at Notre Dame, where he led the Irish to the 2022 College World Series one year after a super regional appearance.
Skip Johnson, Head Coach, Oklahoma
Between a hefty buyout tied to his contract extension through 2029 and the established foundation he’s built at Oklahoma, Johnson would be difficult to lure away. But that hasn’t stopped teams from calling before, and a program with Tennessee’s ambition and resources is unlikely to overlook him.
Long regarded as one of the sport’s premier pitching minds, Johnson has developed a reputation built on both results and relationships, shaped by years of success with players such as future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. He’s been a candidate for several marquee jobs in recent years, and his name always surfaces when major openings arise. Landing him would require a significant financial commitment, but Tennessee is one of the few programs capable of making it happen.
Wes Johnson, Head Coach, Georgia
In just two seasons, Johnson has turned Georgia into one of the SEC’s most dangerous and efficient teams. He led the Bulldogs to a Super Regional in his first year and had them back above the host line in his second, compiling an 86-34 record—the most wins ever by a Georgia coach through two seasons.
Known for his pitching expertise, aggressive transfer portal recruiting and advanced use of analytics, Johnson has quickly modernized and energized the program. He signed an extension in May that runs through 2031, though his buyout remains manageable. Tennessee could easily afford it, making him a legitimate target if it wants to poach from within the SEC.
Skylar Meade, Head Coach, Troy
Meade has quickly elevated Troy into one of the Sun Belt’s most competitive programs, transforming the Trojans from a .500-level team into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender. Over his first four seasons, he compiled a 148-89 record, the best start for any head coach in program history, and led Troy to its first regional appearance since 2018 in 2023. His 2025 team spent much of the spring on the NCAA bubble, further proof of the program’s steady rise.
Troy has invested heavily in baseball under Meade’s leadership, but the 41-year-old’s track record and reputation for player development make him a compelling candidate should a major program like Tennessee come calling.
Dan Skirka, Head Coach, Murray State
Murray State rewarded Skirka with a new four-year deal after he delivered the most remarkable season in program history, leading the Racers to their first-ever College World Series appearance. His team engineered a true Cinderella run, knocking out Ole Miss and Duke along the way and capturing national attention in the process.
Skirka built that roster from a mix of overlooked transfers and junior college standouts, creating a group defined by belief and cohesion. His ability to maximize talent and foster buy-in helped Murray State become one of the sport’s best stories in 2025.
Pulling Skirka from a mid-major would be a bold move, but not an unreasonable one. He’s proven he can galvanize a program, recruit creatively and extract value from underappreciated players. With Tennessee’s resources behind him, he’d have the tools to turn that underdog magic into sustained success.
Rob Vaughn, Head Coach, Alabama
Vaughn stabilized Alabama overnight following the abrupt departure of Brad Bohannon, guiding the Crimson Tide to a 74-42 record in two seasons. At 38, he’s one of the fastest-rising young coaches in college baseball, earning widespread respect for his player development acumen and composed leadership style.
His ability to win quickly in the SEC, combined with his youth and upward trajectory, makes him an intriguing candidate for one of the sport’s top jobs. Vaughn’s profile fits the mold of a modern program builder: analytical, player-focused and proven under pressure.
Mark Wasikowski, Head Coach, Oregon
Wasikowski has quietly built one of the steadiest programs on the West Coast and now in the Big Ten. In their first season in a new conference, the Ducks won a share of the regular-season title, reached 40 wins for the third straight year and extended their postseason streak to four, matching the longest run in school history. The 2025 Big Ten coach of the year has a track record as a proven builder, having engineered turnarounds at both Purdue and Oregon while compiling five regional appearances and two super regional trips.
According to multiple sources, Wasikowski is a name to watch closely.
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