Josh Elander Officially Named Tennessee Baseball Coach, Signs Five-Year, $1 Million Deal
KNOXVILLE – Josh Elander has been officially named the new head baseball coach for the University of Tennessee, signing a five-year contract worth $1 million annually, according to a memorandum of understanding obtained by knox News. the appointment follows the recent departure of Tony Vitello and marks a new era for the Volunteers’ nationally-ranked program.
Elander’s hiring by athletics director Danny White was finalized on October 25th. Previously serving as the associate head coach, Elander was earning $485,000 per year. The new contract represents a notable increase in compensation, reflecting the program’s success and expectations for continued performance.
The contract includes a tiered bonus structure tied to postseason achievements. Elander can earn up to $200,000 for winning the College World Series, wiht additional bonuses for reaching the finals ($160,000), the College World Series ($140,000), a Super Regional ($100,000), hosting a Regional ($60,000), and appearing in a Regional ($40,000).
Success within the Southeastern conference also carries financial incentives. Elander is eligible for an $80,000 bonus for winning either the SEC regular-season title or the SEC Tournament title, and a $20,000 bonus for reaching the SEC Tournament.
Should Elander be terminated without cause, his buyout clause stipulates he will receive 50% of his remaining contract pay.For context, former coach Tony Vitello was earning $3 million annually after receiving a record-setting contract in August 2024, a substantial increase from his initial five-year deal in 2017 which averaged $493,000 annually.
