Tennessee is hiring Florida associate head coach and interim head coach Chuck Jeroloman as its associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, a source told Baseball America. It marks Tennessee’s first major hire under new head coach Josh Elander.
The move reunites Elander and Jeroloman more than a decade after their paths first crossed at TCU, where Jeroloman coached Elander during the 2012 season. The two remained close over the years, and once Elander was promoted to replace Tony Vitello earlier this month, it quickly became clear that Jeroloman would be a top target to join his staff.
Elander now adds a seasoned recruiter and proven developer of hitters and infielders. Jeroloman’s reputation across the SEC has been built on his relentless energy on the trail and a refined technical approach that has shaped some of college baseball’s most dangerous offenses.
That included the 2025 Gators, who slugged 94 home runs—the seventh-highest total in program history—despite navigating a string of injuries throughout the spring. Eleven different Florida players recorded a game-winning RBI, fueling a second-half surge in which the Gators hit .296 with a .406 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage, 26 home runs and 32 stolen bases over their final 18 SEC games.
Among Jeroloman’s top success stories this past season was freshman infielder Brendan Lawson, who emerged as one of the league’s most versatile and productive rookies. Lawson hit .317/.417/.522 with 10 home runs, 48 runs scored and 61 RBI to earn Freshman All-America honors. He started 60 games while seeing action at three infield positions.
Jeroloman also oversaw career-best offensive years from shortstop Colby Shelton and catcher Brody Donay. Shelton, a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist, batted .377 with 19 doubles and a .606 slugging percentage before a hamate injury ended his season. Donay slugged 18 home runs and posted a 1.064 OPS, rounding out a Florida lineup that remained explosive even as it retooled midseason.
That production reflected Jeroloman’s influence as both an evaluator and developer. He was instrumental in recruiting third baseman Bobby Boser, who led the Gators in nearly every major offensive category in 2025, including hits (80), home runs (18), RBI (67) and stolen bases (19) en route to All-America honors.
Jeroloman’s track record of player development stretches far beyond one season. During Florida’s run to the 2023 College World Series Finals, his offense set a program record with 145 home runs while producing seven All-Americans, including unanimous First-Team selections Wyatt Langford and Jac Caglianone. The Gators finished top-10 nationally in slugging percentage, runs and hits while scoring in 43% of their innings that year.
Florida also ranked among the nation’s best defensive teams under Jeroloman’s oversight. In 2024, the Gators finished third nationally in fielding percentage (.982) and committed just 42 errors in 66 games. That same year, seven players hit double-digit home runs for the first time since 1998, reflecting both offensive balance and depth.
Jeroloman joined the Florida staff before the 2020 season after previous stops at South Florida, Jacksonville and TCU. At Florida, he played a central role in landing multiple nationally ranked recruiting classes while helping sustain the program’s run of NCAA Tournament appearances and SEC success.
Jeroloman was the primary recruiter for Florida commits Brady Harris, Kevin Roberts, Denton Lord and Ethan Wheeler, all of whom are considered early-round prospects in the 2026 draft. Ryan McMahan (No. 30 among high school prospects) and Jace Moran (No. 56) are prominent commits in Florida’s 2027 class.
His departure from Gainesville comes amid an unusual period for the Gators. Jeroloman had been serving as acting head coach with Kevin O’Sullivan on administrative leave due to personal matters. Pitching coach David Kopp and assistant Taylor Black remain as Florida’s only full-time assistants. O’Sullivan is expected to return at some point before the 2026 season, though no precise timetable has been set.
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