East Carolina pitching coach has officially accepted a position on Tennessee’s baseball staff, marking a major coaching move within the NCAA baseball landscape as the Volunteers continue reshaping their program under head coach Josh Elander.
Tennessee announced that Austin Knight will serve as the program’s new pitching coach following a highly successful run at East Carolina, where he spent seven seasons overall and developed into one of the most respected pitching coaches in the American Athletic Conference. Over the last five years as ECU’s pitching coach, Knight helped transform the Pirates into one of the most consistent pitching programs in the country.
During his tenure in Greenville, ECU’s pitching staffs frequently ranked among the top nationally in key categories such as ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Pirates finished inside the top 25 nationally in ERA multiple times, including standout seasons in 2023, 2024, and 2026. His staff development also produced multiple All-Americans and a steady pipeline of MLB Draft selections, including high-profile pitchers such as Trey Yesavage and Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman.
Tennessee head coach Josh Elander praised Knight’s track record in player development, recruiting, and building competitive pitching staffs at the highest level of college baseball. Knight’s reputation for analytics-driven pitching development and bullpen management was a key factor in the Vols’ decision to bring him into the program as they look to strengthen their pitching identity in the SEC.
At ECU, Knight originally joined the program as a volunteer assistant before being promoted to pitching coach in 2021. Under his leadership, the Pirates won multiple conference titles and made consistent NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Super Regional run early in his tenure.
Knight now joins a Tennessee program aiming to remain among the nation’s elite after recent postseason success and roster turnover. His arrival is expected to have an immediate impact on pitcher development and staff structure heading into the upcoming season.
