This story has been updated to reflect new confirmations given from sources.
TCU baseball has hired former Tennessee Volunteers coach Bill Mosiello as the team’s new hitting coach, according to an email from the coach.
Mosiello, who originally declined comment on July 2, said in an email Friday afternoon, July 5, that he was officially hired by the team.
TCU assistant coach Kirk Saarloos, who is reportedly moving to a recruiting coordinator position with TCU for the hire, also said in an email July 2 that he could not speak until Friday. As of Sunday morning, July 7, Saarloos has not responded to follow-up questions.
The news was first reported by Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game, who tweeted about the news Monday, July 1.
Representatives from Tennessee athletics declined to confirm the departure of Mosiello July 2, stating university policy. However, the representative told TCU 360 reporters to contact TCU baseball spokeswoman Brandie Davidson about "a possible move."
Davidson, the designated contact for TCU baseball media relations, wrote in an email to TCU 360 July 2 that “[TCU's] official comment comes with a release. If you haven't seen anything from us on social media or via a release then we obviously have no comment or statement.”
As of July 6, neither a press release nor social media post has been posted by TCU baseball or TCU athletics regarding Mosiello's hire.
Mosiello, 46, formerly served as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for the Volunteers. He will serve the Horned Frogs as hitting coach, while TCU coach Kirk Saarloos is expected to be moved to the head recruiting coordinator position.
Mosiello has been coaching baseball on the collegiate and minor league levels for 25 years, coaching and developing players such as Todd Helton, R.A. Dickey, Mike Trout, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera.
A long-time SEC coach, Mosiello helped the Vols claim back-to-back SEC titles in 1993 and 1994. He has also coached at Ole Miss, Auburn, Southern California, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton and Cerritos College.
In the minor leagues, Mosiello served as a manager in the farm systems of the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels.
Mosiello graduated from Fresno State in 1986, where he played catcher for the Bulldogs. After the completion of his college playing career, he immediately started his coaching career at Cerritos College, where he won four South Coast Conference titles and two California state junior college championships within four years.
Soon after, he joined Augie Garrido's staff at Cal State Fullerton for two years, advancing to the College World Series championship game in 1992.
A veteran of summer baseball leagues, Mosiello has earned Manager of the Year honors twice in the Alaska Summer League (1990, 1991) and once in the Cape Cod Baseball League (1998).
