A New Era for Vols Pitching
Tennessee baseball announced the appointment of Austin Knight as its new pitching coach, filling the vacancy left by Josh Reynolds after a two‑year stint that ended without a formal contract.
Knight arrives with a distinguished résumé that includes five straight NCAA Tournament appearances as pitching coach at East Carolina, where he helped shape some of the nation’s most effective staffs. His reputation for developing talent is matched by a family presence in Knoxville, where his wife Taylor and their sons Deacon and Clayton will relocate.
The Vols finished the recent season with a 38‑22 record under head coach Josh Elander, posting a team ERA of 4.72 — the highest since 2013 — and ranking seventh in the SEC and 49th nationally. Their ability to generate strikeouts while limiting walks placed them in the top ten and top seven respectively across the country.
Knight’s journey to Knoxville traces back to his playing days at Ole Miss, where he contributed to a College World Series run in 2014, and earlier stops as a graduate assistant at Little Rock. He hails from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a background that adds a regional connection to the program.
Reynolds, who earned a base salary of $204,999.96 and operated as an at‑will employee, departs after a brief tenure that began as director of baseball operations before his promotion. The university has not disclosed the financial terms of Knight’s agreement, but the move signals a commitment to continuity and ambition.