After the resignation of Tony Vitello yesterday to become the next skipper of the San Francisco Giants, the Tennessee Volunteers have tapped a former Loper to lead the program in the interim. Grant native Frank Anderson, who played for UNK in the 1981 and 1982 seasons, is the new temporary head coach for the Vols.
“I’ve asked Frank Anderson to serve as our interim head coach,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon addressing the situation. “The terminology I used with Frank was, ‘I need a shepherd right now, I need a day-to-day leader.'”
During his time in Knoxville, UT has made six NCAA tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), five straight NCAA Super Regionals (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and three trips to the Men’s College World Series (2021, 2023, 2024) while setting numerous program, SEC and NCAA records along the way. Tennessee has also claimed four combined SEC Titles in that stretch, winning both the regular season and tournament crowns in 2022 and 2024.
During his eight seasons at UT, Anderson has had 25 pitchers hear their names called in the MLB Draft, with at least three being selected in each of the last four drafts (five in 2025, three in 2024, program-record six in 2023, four in 2022). Four of those 25 players have been selected in the first round in Liam Doyle (2025 – St. Louis Cardinals – 5th overall), Marcus Phillips (2025 – Boston Red Sox – 33rd overall), Chase Dollander (2023 – Colorado Rockies – 9th overall) and Garrett Crochet (2020 – Chicago White Sox – 11th overall).
Before his time at Tennessee, Anderson was at Houston from 2013-17, with three postseason appearances and a Super Regional appearance in 2014. He also served as an assistant coach at Texas from 2000-03, Texas Tech from 1990-99, Howard College for the 1988 and 1989 seasons, and Emporia State from 1984-1987.
If Anderson manages a game in 2026 for the Volunteers, it would not be his first time as skipper. He previously led Oklahoma State from 2004-2012, where the Cowboys appeared in the NCAA regional five times, appeared in the Super Regionals in 2007, and won the 2004 Big 12 Baseball tournament.
Anderson is not the only tie between UNK and Tennessee baseball. Omaha Skutt Catholic Pitcher Bubba Day, son of former UNK Baseball coach Damon Day, committed to the Vols in September. According to Prep Baseball Nebraska, he is ranked as the #1 commit out of the state of Nebraska for the Class of 2027.
