From the moment that Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello accepted a position to be the manager of the San Fransisco Giants, former Volunteer players publicly backed Josh Elander to be the program’s next head coach. Tennessee Director of Athletics Danny White gave those players that wish Saturday afternoon, naming Elander as the program’s 26th head coach.
Rocky Top Insider talked to 12 former Tennessee players both before and after Elander was named head coach on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a compilation of their best quotes on new Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander.
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UTL Jared Dickey
On Elander being the right guy for the job
“E is the glue over there, man. He does almost everything and it’s so behind the scenes because he just doesn’t get enough credit. He runs the offense. He runs the catchers.”
On Elander’s personality
“During games, he is extremely even-keel. At practice, he will get fired up when he needs to. Honestly, that is how Tony was at practice too. He’s got a lot of passion. He’s just a very very humble guy. He does not want all the credit when he deserves to be getting every single bit of it.”
RHP Drew Beam
On Elander being a high level recruiter
“He was on the road all the time from what I can remember during my time there. I mean, if we weren’t practicing, then he was in Atlanta or down in Jupiter. He was always flying to places, was putting in the hours … I think that’s what makes him great, is just the want to get after it.”
OF Griffin Merritt
On Elander as a recruiter
“A lot of kids on that team are committed to Josh. They weren’t committed to V. Josh is an extremely good recruiter and has a very good relationship with all those kids. Tennessee won’t lose a lot of recruits from this unless he doesn’t hire Josh.
“When you’re recruiting high school kids or even me in the portal— I was 22 years old— you look for relationships. … Josh is more— you know how much he cares and loves you. The respect for him is through the roof for the players. He’s literally V(itello) 2.0 but just more personable with players.”
On Elander as a hitting coach
“If I had something about hitting that I had a question about, I’m going to Josh. My hitting coach. Not that V couldn’t handle it but V will be the first person to tell you he wasn’t a good hitter. Josh was a good hitter. If I’m going to go get advice about hey, how do I hit this 100 mph fastball that’s moving three feet? I’m probably going to ask Josh.
“He will grind. You want from BP from 5 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. He is there. He is grinding. He is committed to that program and he will invest every ounce of energy that you will invest into it to get you where you want to be. There’s few people in this sport that truly will invest everything and drop what they’re doing to make you do better. I respect the hell out of that man for what he did for me. Getting me through some good times and some bad times. He’s also really good at coaching hitting. He was a really good hitter. He understands scouting reports and how to do this and how to do that. He understands data. Those guys that made those offensive jumps. One, it’s because when you’re around good players. You get better. That’s part of it. They got stronger and more athletic with Q(uentin Eberhardt) or whoever is doing the training. But Josh played the biggest part in those hitters turning it around. That was his job. He was the hitting coach. Now V had his hand in everything too. He was the head coach. He was the mafia boss. He had his hand in everything. But Josh ran the hitters.”
LHP Liam Doyle
On why Elander is the right man for the job
“It’s a no brainer for me. He was Tony’s right hand man through all these great years and baseball wise you will not find anyone better to represent this program.”
RHP Chase Dollander
On why former Tennessee players rallied around Elander
“I think the reason former players were so outspoken was because of the guy he is. Not only is he a great coach, he’s an outstanding family man. And that’s something I admire more than anything on the field. That’s how the coaching staff makes you feel. Like you are just one big family and they treat you like their own.”
Tennessee RHP AJ Russell
On Elander being a high level recruiter
“Right away there is nobody that works harder in this program and knows the program like Josh Elander, he has complete respect from the team this year and in past year and of the recruits coming in. People come to Tennessee just as much for Elander as they did for Vitello.”
Catcher Cal Stark
On why Elander is the right man for the job
“Elander is one of the hardest workers. One of the best recruiters in the country. He has been for years. It’s been shown. Just look at the stats. He produces hitters like no other. Look at the offenses that he’s had over the years, since being at Tennessee. Time and time again, leading in home runs. Just a bunch of different offensive categories. Tennessee teams have been leading in those.”
On Elander’s ability to build relationships
“He creates relationships from the get-go, from the time he starts talking to you. It’s a lot more than just baseball when it comes to him and how he treats you. How he treats you as a person. It’s a lot more than just you’re a player. … He cares about you on a deep level and he cares about your family, cares about your school, cares about your girlfriend, cares about your wife. Whatever you have, he’s just an awesome awesome human being.”
RHP Marcus Phillips
On why Elander is the right man for the job
“Elander is one of the best coaches I have ever played for. The guy loves his players and would do anything for them and he knows how to win games.”
OF Kavares Tears
On why Elander is the right man for the job
“I think his resume speaks for itself. He’s been the backbone behind the Vol offense that seemingly puts up record breaking stats every year. He’s done an outstanding job at preparing my former teammates and I for professional level, not only just by hitting but baserunning and understanding the game itself. But more importantly than that, he’s been a great example for what it looks like to be a man off of the field. I don’t have enough words to show my gratitude for everything he’s helped me with in life. I think he’s the best guy for the position without a doubt.”
RHP Camden Sewell
On Elander’s personality
“I would describe E as a silent assassin. That’s kind of how I view him. He’s not the person that is going to always be a huge rah rah guy. But at the end of the day, he may be laid back a little bit but at the end of the day, don’t get it twisted, it’s all business.”
On why former players are rallying around Elander
“He’s proven he is a winner and a leader and all of us guys rallying for him, that says a lot about a coach. Anyone who has ever played for Elander or even just made contact with Elander, you’re instantly better as a baseball player, a better man and anything positive that you can think of is what Elander gets the most out of you.”
LHP Will Heflin
On why Elander is the right man for the job
“Elander will continue the direction the program has been headed and move it forward.”
LHP Zander Sechrist
On Elander’s personality
“He’s more of a silent assassin because obviously he can coach, he can call a game pretty good. E being a silent assassin is he strikes fear into people. I think he’s just got a good stature over there at third base. I wouldn’t want to mess with him, personally. But I think he’s just got that killer instinct but more on the inside than on the outspoken.”
