Tennessee baseball has hired Austin Knight as its new pitching coach, moving from East Carolina. Knight enjoyed a successful tenure, leading ECU's pitching staff to a national ranking of 20th in ERA this past season. He succeeds Josh Reynolds, who was dismissed after one year due to a disappointing 4.72 ERA, the highest for the program since 2013.

By the Numbers
  • East Carolina ranked 20th nationally in ERA (4.23) during the 2026 season.
  • Tennessee's pitching staff had a 4.72 ERA in 2026, ranking seventh in the SEC.
State of Play
  • Tennessee's pitching struggled in 2026, resulting in Reynolds' dismissal.
  • ECU had a successful season, finishing 38-24-1 and securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
What's Next

With Knight taking the helm, Tennessee will look to improve its pitching performance heading into the next season, aiming to regain its competitive edge in the SEC.

Bottom Line

The acquisition of Austin Knight represents Tennessee's strategic effort to revitalize its pitching staff after a lackluster season, underscoring a commitment to enhancing competitive performance in college baseball.