SIAP: Kingston out at USCjr

[BillyHoyleVol]

Mark Kingston got the axe earlier today after 7 seasons. Heard from a few different folks that they’re interested in Coach Elander. It looks like Baseball America is saying it behind their paywall…can’t confirm, as I’m a cheapskate. Had another fella send me a 247 article screen shot mentioning Elander. Thoughts?

I’d hate for one of Tony’s guys to leave for a school in conference (especially in our division). I’d rather not have anyone affiliated with our rivals know how the secret sauce is made.

 

[volplaya8]

Be a good hire hire for them and I appreciate all Coach Elander has done here. With the success we have had it is long overdue and barring when they play us I wish him success if he were to move on. With Tony at the helm I am never worried about other schools or what they do.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

I think they'll probably reach out to him, but their fans seem mixed on the idea. At the moment, I think they're suffering from the same thing that we went through during the search for Kellie Harper's replacement—they want the most attention-grabbing hire possible to restore their program to its former glory, so hiring a guy with no head coaching experience seems risky. As we all know, what fans want and expect doesn't always align with what's going through the AD's head.

If he's offered and leaves, he's more than earned a shot.

 

[OldTimer]

Just my two cents and I don’t necessarily agree with the logic, but Elander is 33 years old. Vitello was 38 when he was hired and was the youngest SEC head coach. I dont think any SEC program would hire someone under 35.

 

[feathersax]

Arkansas hitting .197 in past 8 Regional appearances. Hogs not so cocky lately

 

[vol66]

He’s been talked about for a few years that he might be ready to make the leap.SC might go another route, but Josh is gonna talk to people and I hope he does what he thinks is best for his career.

For that matter CTV has been talking about it for a while too, which means I’m sure he has a plan ready.

 

[Ghost of Archvol]

Would be very surprised. SC needs a proven commodity; they have the resources to go after a good coach with a good track record and of course they have SEC money to do so. Elander would be far too risky. Elander will get his at some point - probably someone at a lower level with less to gamble for his first gig.

Guys like him could be a Richt or maybe a Norm Chow as head man. You never know when they have zero head coaching experience.

 

[volplaya8]

Just my two cents and I don’t necessarily agree with the logic, but Elander is 33 years old. Vitello was 38 when he was hired and was the youngest SEC head coach. I dont think any SEC program would hire someone under 35.

How desperate are they…how high do they value Elander…who else do they think they can get. Lots of questions at that program that none of us know answer to but we will find out soon enough!

 

[TheMookieMonster]

When, not if, we lose Elander it will hurt. But TV has my complete faith and trust and I know he’ll make a home run hire. After all, he hired Elander and Frank, two of the best in the business, so the man knows how to find and hire great coaches.

 

[vol66]

Would be very surprised. SC needs a proven commodity; they have the resources to go after a good coach with a good track record and of course they have SEC money to do so. Elander would be far too risky. Elander will get his at some point - probably someone at a lower level with less to gamble for his first gig.

Guys like him could be a Richt or maybe a Norm Chow as head man. You never know When they have zero head coaching experienc.

Couldn’t you have said the same thing about Vitello?

 

[ThatVolGuy]

Couldn’t you have said the same thing about Vitello?

I think the expectation levels are a bit different. Vitello was walking into a program with lackluster facilities and somewhat apathetic fans that hadn't seen the postseason since 2005. South Carolina has fallen off for sure, but it's still a program that won back-to-back titles a little over a decade ago. They have a pretty long history of baseball success. They've been to the mountaintop and want to return, whereas we just wanted a guy who could make us competitive again. We got A LOT more than that, of course, but I just think the two situations are a lot different. We didn't really have the right to demand a proven commodity.

 

[OldTimer]

This guy must be from South Carolina, he was very articulate with the history and tradition of the program, at the end when he talks about who to hire, he said Ray Tanner needs to call Vitello………dudes living in the past

 

[TheMookieMonster]

This guy must be from South Carolina, he was very articulate with the history and tradition of the program, at the end when he talks about who to hire, he said Ray Tanner needs to call Vitello………dudes living in the past

SEC Unfiltered is run by a South Carolina fan. It’s the account formerly known as The Spurs Up Show. So, it’s not surprising at all that he thinks South Carolina can hire whoever they want.

 

[Volgrandpa]

If Elander take a head coach job at any other school I wonder what Volunteer players will follow him.

 

[BillyHoyleVol]

This guy must be from South Carolina, he was very articulate with the history and tradition of the program, at the end when he talks about who to hire, he said Ray Tanner needs to call Vitello………dudes living in the past

That account is trying to emulate the success of Mike Bratton and “Cousin” Shane Sheridan over at That SEC Podcast…and doing an incredibly crappy job, at that.

 

[OldTimer]

If Elander take a head coach job at any other school I wonder what Volunteer players will follow him.

0 starters or major contributors

 

[NighthawkVol]

If Elander take a head coach job at any other school I wonder what Volunteer players will follow him.

South Carolina native Wyatt Evans, I’d guess.

 

[chuckiepoo]

South Carolina native Wyatt Evans, I’d guess.

May wind up there anyway, as he’s into the portal.

 

[volplaya8]

South Carolina native Wyatt Evans, I’d guess.

When is the last time he was seen in Vol uni…I don’t think I saw him in Hoover or this past weekend…

 

[bigorangepoppa]

I read on Google that some incoming signees and guys on the team want Monte Lee.

 

[OldTimer]

from D1 Baseball:

Dan McDonnell, Louisville

Tom Walter, Wake Forest

Chris Pollard, Duke

Monte Lee, South Carolina hitting coach

Skylar Meade, Troy

Cliff Godwin, East Carolina

Josh Elander, Tennessee
One of the premier assistants, hitting coaches and recruiting coordinators in Division I Baseball, Elander has done an incredible job during his seven-year stint as a full-time assistant on Tony Vitello’s coaching staff. Elander had a successful collegiate career during his days at TCU and has experienced success in his coaching career. If the Gamecocks happen to go to the assistant route, which I don’t think they’ll need to do, Elander would make a ton of sense.

Josh Jordan, LSU

 

[VOLfrombama]

Not saying he won't be considered, but I think Elander will be pretty far down on the list. I believe that their AD will go after a laundry list of HC's with D1 experience first.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Not saying he won't be considered, but I think Elander will be pretty far down on the list. I believe that their AD will go after a laundry list of HC's with D1 experience first.

Hard to tell. I wouldn’t assume anything. Elander has a pretty good resume.

 

[TechnoVol]

If asked, I expect Elander to interview. Would make sense as I'm sure he eventually wants to be a head coach. Even if he's not selected, it's great experience for him to go through the interview process.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

If asked, I expect Elander to interview. Would make sense as I'm sure he eventually wants to be a head coach. Even if he's not selected, it's great experience for him to go through the interview process.

I agree. And I imagine Tony would heartily encourage it.