Staff Directory

Frank Anderson

Title:
Assistant Coach

THE ANDERSON FILE

Personal Information

Hometown: Grant, Nebraska
College: Emporia State, 1983

Coaching Experience

1984-87:
Emporia State, Assistant Coach
1988-89:
Howard College, Assistant Coach
1990-99:
Texas Tech, Assistant Coach
2000-03:
Texas, Assistant Coach
2004-12:
Oklahoma State, Head Coach
2013-17:
Houston, Assistant Coach
2018-present:
Tennessee, Assistant Coach

Playing Experience

1979-80:
Mid-Plains Junior College
1981-82:
University of Nebraska at Kearney

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

EMPORIA STATE

1984:
NAIA World Series
1986:
NAIA World Series
1976:
NAIA World Series (Runner Up)

TEXAS TECH

1995:
NCAA Regional (Wichita, Kan.)
1996:
NCAA Regional (Lubbock, Texas)
1997:
NCAA Regional (Lubbock, Texas)
1998:
NCAA Regional (Coral Gables, Fla.)
1999:
NCAA Regional (Lubbock, Texas)

TEXAS

2000:
College World Series
2001:
NCAA Regional (Palo Alto, Calif.)
2002:
College World Series (National Champions)
2003:
College World Series

OKLAHOMA STATE

2004:
NCAA Regional (Tallahassee, Fla.)
2006:
NCAA Regional (Fayetteville, Ark.)
2007:
NCAA Super Regional (Louisville, Ky.)
2008:
NCAA Regional (Stillwater, Okla.)
2009:
NCAA Regional (Clemson, S.C.)
2011:
NCAA Regional (Nashville, Tenn.)

HOUSTON

2014:
NCAA Super Regional (Austin, Texas)
2015:
NCAA Regional (Houston, Texas)
2017:
NCAA Regional (Houston, Texas)

TENNESSEE

2019:
NCAA Regional (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
2021:
College World Series
2022:
NCAA Super Regional (Knoxville, Tenn.)
2023:
College World Series
2024:
College World Series (National Champions)
2025:
NCAA Super Regional (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Two-time national champion Frank Anderson joined the Tennessee coaching staff in June of 2017 and has been a integral part of Tony Vitello's staff for eight seasons.

During that time, Anderson has played an instrumental role in helping build the Volunteers into one of the nation's elite college baseball programs. Since his arrival, UT has made five NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), three trips to the Men's College World Series (2021, 2023, 2024) and captured the program's first national championship (2024). The Vols have also won four combined SEC Titles in that time, pulling off the double by winning the regular season and tournament crowns in 2022 and 2024.

Considered one of the premier pitching coaches in the country, Anderson brings a wealth of experience as both an assistant and a head coach at the NCAA Division I level. Prior to his successful stint as pitching coach at Houston, Anderson served as head coach for Oklahoma State for nine seasons (2004-12), leading the Cowboys to six NCAA Regional appearances as well as a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2007.

Since joining Vitello's staff at Tennessee, Anderson has consistently assembled some of the nation's top pitching staffs. The Vols have finished in the top 20 nationally in ERA, WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio in each of the past seven seasons. Anderson has overseen some of the nation’s top pitching staffs during his 42-year coaching career. In total, Anderson’s pitching staffs have finished among the top-25 in the country in ERA 18 times, including 11 top-10 rankings.

Throughout his storied coaching career, Anderson has coached 103 pitchers that have been selected in the MLB Draft, including 10 first rounders (four at Tennessee). In total, 15 pitchers were drafted during Anderson’s tenure at Houston. He also had 27 pitchers selected during his time at Oklahoma State, 15 picked while he was at Texas and 21 drafted during his 10 seasons with Texas Tech.

During his eight seasons at UT, Anderson has had 25 pitchers hear their names called in the MLB Draft, with at least three being taken 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).

Doyle became UT's highest-drafted pitcher straight out of college in program history after a record-setting 2025 season with the Vols that saw him earn unanimous first-team All-America status. The firey lefthander was named the Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Year, the NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year and the SEC Pitcher of the Year thanks to one of the most dominant seasons on the mound in program history. He was also just the third player in UT history to be named a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy in the same season, joining Tennessee legends Chris Burke (2001) and Todd Helton (1995). Doyle finished his junior campaign with a 10-4 record to go along with 3.20 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 19 appearances (17 starts). He led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (15.43) and finished second in the country with a program record 164 strikeouts.

As has become the norm under Anderson, Tennessee once again had one of the nation's top pitching staffs in 2025, finishing 14th nationally in ERA (4.06), second in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.17) and 15th in WHIP (1.29).

The Vols posted a historic season in 2024 that culminated with the program's first National Championship. The staff finished sixth in the country with a 3.89 ERA and ranked in the top five nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio, walks allowed per nine innings and WHIP.

In his first season as a weekend starter, senior lefthander Zander Sechrist put together one of the most dominant postseasons in program history, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.57 ERA over five starts which included victories in the SEC Tournament semifinal, NCAA Knoxville Regional final and game three of the NCAA Knoxville Super Regional to send UT to Omaha for the seventh time in program history. Sechrist led the Vols to two more wins during their MCWS championship run, tossing a career-high tying 6.1 innings in a win over Florida State to send Tennessee to the championship series before striking out seven batters over 5.1 innings of one-run ball in the winner-take-all game three of the finals against Texas A&M.

Tennessee boasted one of the country’s top pitching staffs in 2023 and finished the year ranked among the top five nationally in ERA (2^nd – 3.63), WHIP (2^nd – 1.16), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2^nd – 4.03), shutouts (3^rd – 9), total strikeouts (3^rd – 738), strikeouts per nine innings (3^rd – 11.7), hits allowed per nine innings (4^th – 7.51) and walks allowed per nine innings (4^th – 2.90) while leading the Vols to their second College World Series appearance in three years. The 738 strikeouts and 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings were both single-season program records.

Anderson's pitching staff played a major part in Tennessee's record-setting 2022 season that saw the program reach No. 1 in the polls for the first time in its history and win a school-record 57 games en route to SEC Regular Season and SEC Tournament titles. Anderson was tabbed the 2022 Rawlings Pitching Coach of the Year after leading a staff that finished No. 1 nationally in ERA (2.51), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.24), WHIP (1.00) and walks allowed per nine innings (2.48). The Vols also set single-season program records in ERA , WHIP, opponent batting average (.199), strikeouts (695), strikeouts/nine innings (10.5) and walks allowed/nine innings.

The Big Orange had a program-best five pitchers earn All-America honors during the 2022 season, led by the trio of Dollander, Chase Burns and Drew Beam. Dollander racked up the postseason honors following a dominant sophomore season, becoming the first UT player to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year and earn consensus first-team All-America honors since Luke Hochevar in 2005. Burns also brought home numerous national awards after being named the D1Baseball.com National Freshman of the Year, the NCBWA Freshman National Pitcher of the Year and the Collegiate Baseball Co-Freshman National Player of the Year, on top of earning All-America and Freshman All-America recognition. Beam had an equally impressive debut campaign and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year on top of earning All-America and Freshman All-America honors. Relievers Ben Joyce and Redmond Walsh also garnered All-America status from the NCBWA in 2022.

In 2021, Anderson's pitching staff once again ranked among the nation's best as the Vols won the SEC Eastern division title for the first time since 1997 and advanced to their first College World Series since 2005. The Big Orange finished the season ranked top 10 in the country in ERA (10th - 3.51), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd - 3.63), WHIP (5th - 1.16) and walks allowed per nine innings (3rd - 2.49). Three UT pitchers earned All-America honors in Chad Dallas (ABCA & NCBWA), Sean Hunley (Baseball America) and Blade Tidwell (Freshman AA - D1Baseball & Perfect Game).

After leading one of the country's top pitching staffs in 2019, Anderson's group of arms was on pace to be one of the nation's best once again in 2020 before the season was cut short due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Through 17 games in 2020, the Volunteers ranked among the top 25 in the nation in a handful of statistical categories, including: WHIP (0.94 - second), ERA (2.00 - fourth), hits allowed/nine innings (6.41 - 16^th), shutouts (three - 12^th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.89 - third) and walks allowed/nine innings (2.06 - third).

UT was able to post those impressive numbers despite missing three key pieces to its pitching staff for the majority of the year. Junior lefthander Garrett Crochet, the expected ace of the staff, made just one start due to arm soreness. Crochet went on to become the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft in June and became the first player to go from the draft to the big leagues without playing in the minors since Mike Leake did so with the Reds in 2010. Crochet made six appearances for the Chicago White Sox during the 2020 season, including one postseason outing. In those six games, he did not allow a single run and gave up just three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings of relief.

Tennessee's pitching staff took a giant leap forward in 2019 and was one of the nation's best throughout the year, helping lead the UT back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005. Under Anderson's guidance, the Vols tied a program record with 10 shutouts (including three in conference play), racked up 551 strikeouts (second most in program history) and set a new program record in strikeouts per nine innings (9.16). UT had a 3.59 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .239 batting average (lowest since 1996). At season’s end, UT’s pitching staff was ranked among the Top 25 nationally in shutouts (second), strikeout-to-walk ratio (ninth), WHIP (10^th), walks allowed per nine innings (14^th) and ERA (19^th).

The Vols got off to the best start in program history by winning their first 15 games of the year, due in large part to the pitching staff that posted shutouts in each of their first four games while not allowing a run for 41.0 consecutive innings to begin the season, both program records.

Junior starter Garrett Stallings completely transformed himself in the offseason and developed into Tennessee's unquestioned ace, leading the team with a career-high eight victories and 106 strikeouts. Stallings was named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team. The Chesapeake, Va., native was also named SEC Pitcher of the Week twice, becoming the first Vol to accomplish that feat since James Adkins in 2007, after throwing two complete-game shutouts in SEC play to lead UT to wins over No. 2 Georgia and No. 15 Ole Miss. Stallings (fifth round) as well as fellow junior pitchers Andrew Schultz (sixth round) and Zach Linginfelter (ninth round) were all selected on Day 2 of the 2019 MLB Draft.

Redshirt sophomore Redmond Walsh also had a breakout 2019 campaign under Anderson. The crafty lefty developed into Tennessee's closer and set career bests in ERA (1.38), appearances (27), wins (two), saves (nine), innings pitched (45.2), strikeouts (48) and opponent batting average (.232).

In Anderson's first season at Tennessee, he helped lead the Volunteers to a five-win improvement in SEC play as the team won 12 conference games for the first time since 2014. Under Anderson's guidance, true freshmen pitchers Sean Hunley, Garrett Crochet and Chase Wallace had solid debut seasons. Hunley led the team with a 2.64 ERA and a 7-3 record after becoming the first freshman in program history to start a season 6-0. Crochet finished the year tied for second on the team in wins with five and was second in the team with 62 strikeouts while spending time as a starter and a reliever. Wallace was third on the team with a 2.86 ERA and led the team with three saves on the year.

During Anderson’s tenure at Houston, he helped lead the Cougars to three NCAA Tournaments, including an NCAA Super Regional in 2014. UH played in four consecutive American Athletic Conference Tournament championship games, taking home the title in 2014 and 2017. Houston finished in the top-10 nationally in team earned run average during three of Anderson’s five seasons with the program.The Cougars had the country’s lowest regular-season ERA (2.04) and WHIP (1.00) in 2014 while also tying a program record with 48 victories and making the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Anderson’s pitching staffs were equally as impressive in 2015 and 2016, leading the American Athletic Conference and ranking among the top-10 in ERA during both seasons. Houston finished the 2016 season with a 2.48 ERA, which ranked No. 2 in the country.

Prior to his stint as an assistant at Houston, Anderson spent nine seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma State and helped lead the program to six NCAA regional appearances. During his first season at OSU, he led the Pokes to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. He also guided OSU to the Big 12 Tournament Championship in 2004, its first in program history. The 2006 season started an impressive three-year run for the Cowboys, as they posted three straight seasons of 41 or more victories. Anderson’s squad earned the No. 1 national seed in the NCAA Tournament that year, and in 2007 the program reached the NCAA Super Regionals. Another successful season followed in 2008, with the Pokes climbing as high as No. 5 in the national rankings. Oklahoma State finished the season ranked all three years from 2006-08.

Before taking over in Stillwater, Anderson was the pitching coach on Augie Garrido’s staff at Texas for four years (2000-03). During his time in Austin, Anderson helped lead the Longhorns to three consecutive College World Series appearances (2001-03), and helped them win a national championship in 2002.

While at Texas, Anderson’s pitching staffs were a key factor in the program’s three consecutive trips to Omaha. The Longhorns led the Big 12 in team ERA during each of his four seasons and finished among the top five in the nation three times. Anderson’s staffs at Texas recorded sparkling team ERAs of 2.82 in 2002, 3.17 in 2001 and 3.30 in 2000, and also posted the program's best team ERA since 1983 (2.72) and the second-lowest ERA nationally in the 2002 campaign.

Other stops for Anderson included 10 years as an assistant at Texas Tech (1990-99), three seasons at Howard College (1987-89) and three years as an assistant at his alma mater, Emporia State (1983-85). In total, Anderson has been a part of Division I coaching staffs of teams that have advanced to 21 NCAA Regionals, seven NCAA Super Regionals and have made four trips to the College World Series.

Anderson is a native of Grant, Nebraska, and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Emporia State in 1983 before going on to attain his master’s degree from the school in 1985. Prior to attending ESU, Anderson played two seasons at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and was a junior college All-American at Mid-Plains Junior College in North Platte, Nebraska.

Anderson and his wife, Sandra, have two children: a daughter Katelyn, and a son, Brett, who has spent 13 seasons as a pitcher in the Major Leagues.