KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head baseball coach Josh Elander announced on Saturday, June 6, 2026, the addition of Austin Knight to his coaching staff as the new pitching coach. Knight, considered a rising star in college baseball coaching, comes to Tennessee after a highly successful tenure as the pitching coach at East Carolina University. [1, 4, 9]

During his time with the East Carolina Pirates, Knight was instrumental in leading the team to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including an NCAA Super Regional in 2022. He also helped the Pirates secure five American Conference regular-season titles and three conference tournament championships. [1, 4, 9]

Knight's expertise in pitcher development is well-documented. Under his guidance, East Carolina's pitching staffs consistently ranked among the nation's elite, finishing in the top 25 nationally for ERA three times during his five seasons as pitching coach. [9, 10] He has a proven track record of developing talent, having worked directly with nine players selected in the MLB Draft, including 2024 first-round pick Trey Yesavage. Yesavage's rapid ascent to the Major Leagues, where he became the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 1 starter in the 2025 World Series, is a testament to Knight's coaching abilities. [1, 4, 9, 10]

Coach Elander expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition, stating, "We are excited to welcome Austin Knight, his wife Taylor, and his two sons Deacon and Clayton to Tennessee. Austin has a proven track record of developing pitchers and leading successful staffs that compete at the highest level. He is an exceptional coach and recruiter whose values align with our culture, and we look forward to the impact he will have on our student-athletes and program." [1, 5, 9]

Knight replaces Josh Reynolds, who parted ways with the program earlier in the offseason. [5, 14] Knight's coaching career began with volunteer assistant roles at Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M, followed by a head coaching position at Northeast Texas Community College. He also spent time in the Seattle Mariners' minor league system as a hitting coach and manager before returning to college baseball. [6, 7, 8]

Knight's arrival is expected to significantly bolster the Tennessee Volunteers' pitching program as they aim for continued success in the upcoming seasons. [3, 10]