Former Tennessee baseball assistant coach Ross Kivett is rejoining the Volunteer program as a third paid assistant coach, D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers first reported and a source confirmed to RTI on Tuesday.
Kivett is replacing Richard Jackson as Tennessee’s third paid assistant coach. Jackson, who worked with pitchers and was the bullpen coach, is leaving the Vols’ program to work in the private sector.
Kivett was previously on Tennessee’s staff under Tony Vitello from 2018-2021 before leaving to become an assistant coach at Houston. The Cougars eventually elevated Kivett to associate head coach but the former Kansas State standout decided to leave his roll in Houston to return to Tennessee.
When Kivett left Tennessee for Houston, NCAA rules limited college baseball teams to only have two paid assistant coaches. This meant that Kivett made limited money, mostly from running camps, while working full time hours.
This made Kivett’s decision to leave Tennessee for a full time assistant job at Houston the logical one. But with NCAA rule changes that allows for a third paid assistant coach and Jackson leaving the coaching profession, a reunion for Tennessee and Kivett made perfect sense.
Jackson pitched at Tennessee from 2015-19 before serving as a graduate assistant from 2020-21 and the third assistant coach from 2022-24 after Kivett left for Houston.
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While at Tennessee, Kivett coached the Vols’ infielders while also working on base running and providing assistance to associate head coach Josh Elander as a hitting coach.
Kivett is an extremely fiery and passionate coach that fits in on Tennessee’s coaching staff full of people with similar personalities. Kivett was ejected from Tennessee’s College World Series game against Texas in 2021 and responded with a memorable outburst at the third base umpire.
Ross Kivett is coming back to Tennessee🍊pic.twitter.com/yK7Q19LUHN
— More Important Issues (@More_Issues) July 30, 2024
“Coach Kivett brings an elevated amount of intensity, energy, and experience to Tennessee Baseball,” Vitello said when he hired Kivett in 2018. “He is without question one of the most intense individuals I’ve ever seen on a baseball field.”
Vitello hiring Kivett is a continues the theme of loyalty in Tennessee’s program. With Kivett returning, the Vols’ three main assistant coaches are the exact same as when Vitello arrived at Tennessee in 2018.
Director of Baseball Performance Quentin Eberhardt was on Vitello’s original staff and left for the 2022 season before rejoining the program ahead of the 2023 season. Jackson was an in house hire who played for Vitello.
Other support staff members include Director of Player Development Luke Bonfield, Student Assistant Coach Parker Serrano and Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition Beth Schwartz. Bonfield played for Vitello at Arkansas, Serrano is the son of former Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano and Schwartz left Tennessee for the 2023 season before returning in 2024.
Vitello preached loyalty frequently and it is evident in his coaching and support staff. Rehiring Kivett is just the latest example.
