Ross Kivett hired as Tennessee baseball assistant coach, rejoins Tony Vitello's staff

Ross Kivett is rejoining the Tennessee baseball staff as Tony Vitello is bringing back the former volunteer assistant as an assistant coach.

Kivett, who spent four years as the volunteer assistant coach on Vitello's staff, served as an assistant coach at Houston the past three seasons. He earned the associate head coach title at Houston, where he was the Cougars' hitting coach, infielders coach and recruiting coordinator.

Kivett's return means every member of Vitello's original staff is with the Vols.

Kivett, who was hired at Houston following the 2021 College World Series, was the first departure. Strength and conditioning coach Quentin Eberhardt was hired by the Chicago Cubs in December 2021, but returned to UT in June 2022.

Josh Elander has been the hitting coach and Frank Anderson has been the pitching coach during Vitello's entire seven-year tenure, which has included three CWS appearances and the 2024 national championship − the first in program history.

Kivett is the third Vols assistant coach, replacing Richard Jackson, who worked closely with the pitching staff and Anderson. Jackson stepped into the volunteer assistant coach position after Kivett left then was promoted to assistant coach. Jackson pitched for the Vols from 2015-19.

The NCAA Division I Council voted in January 2023 to permit coaching staffs to have a fourth full-time coach. The limit previously was three. The decision went into effect July 1, 2023, which led to Jackson's hire as a full-time coach and opened the door for Kivett's return after Jackson decided to leave for a job outside baseball.

Kivett, a Cleveland native, played at Kansas State. The Detroit Tigers selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He played four seasons in Detroit's minor-league system.

Luke Bonfield is the director of player development and Parker Serrano is the student assistant coach. Serrano served as the first-base coach last season, a duty Kivett had during his first tenure with the Vols.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ ByMikeWilson . If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ross Kivett hired as Tennessee baseball assistant coach, rejoins Tony Vitello's staff