New Tennessee Vols baseball coach Josh Elander drops quote that will instantly make him an even bigger fan favorite
Josh Elander was introduced as the Tennessee Vols’ new head baseball coach on Monday morning
The Tennessee Vols officially introduced Josh Elander as the program’s new baseball coach on Monday morning.
Elander, who has been on Tennessee’s coaching staff for the last eight years, was promoted to head coach following former UT head coach Tony Vitello’s decision to become the new San Francisco Giants’ manager.
Vols athletic director Danny White hired Elander after a brief nationwide coaching search.
Josh Elander drops quote that will instantly make him an even bigger fan favorite on Rocky Top
Elander admitted during his introductory press conference that the uncertainty between the time Vitello left for San Francisco and when he was hired by Tennessee was “scary”.
And that’s not because Elander was necessarily worried about getting the job. Instead, it was because of the possibility of not getting to wear the Power T anymore.
“The emotions were crazy,” said Elander. “I think for all the staff, I think we have a genuine and rooted love for this university. And it was scary, just to be very honest with you….when you’re looking at hey, maybe not being able to wear that Power T anymore, it’s a pretty scary feeling to be honest.”
Elander isn’t from Tennessee, and he didn’t play for the Vols (he’s from Texas and he played at TCU), but Knoxville is clearly “home” for him. And that shouldn’t be a surprise — Elander has now spent more time at Tennessee than he has at any other stop in his career.
There shouldn’t be any doubt what Tennessee means to Elander after that quote during his introductory presser on Monday.