Vols view departing Chad Zurcher as ‘unsung hero’ for championship program

Tennessee Director of Baseball Operations Chad Zurcher has held the same title for nine seasons. First working under Dave Serrano, he was held onto when Tony Vitello got the job and has been an integral piece to the national power every step of the way.  

Following the program’s first ever national championship earlier this week, the 35-year-old plans to step away from the baseball side of things to take a job with the university in another role. The move is for family, as Zurcher and wife Ara are raising a soon-to-be one-year-old baby boy in Warren Zurcher.

Having dad home more is a win for everybody. Working a traditional 9-5 is an exciting new opportunity for the family and one that has been in the works for several months. But the former standout Division I baseball player had a job to finish with the Vols and now he’s going out on top.   

“I knew in February that this was going to be it. I just wanted to ride it out as long as we could. I’m glad it worked out with the university, athletics department and Brad Briggs, my new boss,” Zurcher said. “Tony [Vitello] agreed to let me finish out the year and then leave it in a spot to where you ride it out to the last day of the year.

“I told Ara on Monday, ‘we are on the final day of the baseball season and we have ridden this thing the whole way, regardless of what has happened.’ I’m not really leaving it anywhere because Tony, Frank [Anderson], Josh [Elander] and Richard [Jackson] are going to keep it going. It’s going to be fun to watch from the other side too.”

As Director of Baseball Operations, Zurcher did many things that went unnoticed by the common fan. He handled tickets for players and their families. He set up official visits and helped coordinate recruiting efforts during open periods. Zurcher, at times, scrubbed jerseys and taxied players and coaches to and from team hotels. He was involved in community outreach programs and got the players involved with the fans.

Oh, and he was one of the better batting practice pitchers the program has ever seen. Not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing for the former professional ball player, but the Vols benefited in the process.

He did it all behind the scenes, and though we might not have seen him in action, the players surely did.

“Chad provided everything for this team, the behind the scenes stuff that no one talks about – especially the ticket situations,” pitcher Zander Sechrist told Volquest on Thursday. “He was a great man for this organization and couldn’t ask for a better man for that job. It was emotional yesterday when he told us [of his departure], but family time is important, especially with a young kid. I hope nothing but the best for him and the friendship will always be there!

Part of what made Zurcher such a hit in the clubhouse was his ability to connect with the players.

Growing up in South Knoxville and starring at South-Doyle High School, he went on to have his jersey number retired at Memphis and was drafted by the New York Mets in 2011. Zurcher spent a couple of seasons in the minors, playing in nearby Kingsport of the former MLB-affiliated Appalachian League. The infielder also played a season in Savannah, Ga. in the Sally League.    

“He has meant everything to this organization and to me as well,” Sechrist continued. “He always treated me nice during my visits. I got the nickname “pengoo” because one year, I would keep asking him the score to the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff games.”

Former players, such as Luc Lipcius, reflect fondly on Zurcher’s impact over the years and even during the transition of coaching staffs. He was a constant in the program that was going through change and he adapted every step of the way, keeping the players first.

“Chad Zurcher’s official title was Director of Baseball Operations, but he did so much more than that. He was as much of a coach as any of the others, from throwing BP when needed to hitting ground balls to giving us advice,” the former home run champion told Volquest. “Most of all, Chad was that guy you could look to, to have an easy conversation or make you smile. He really was such a positive presence to the team that helped build the chemistry needed to be great.

“He is one of the unsung heroes of the Tennessee baseball program.”

Chad will continue to be around the program, just not in the everyday sense. He’s an East Tennessee kid who grew up loving the Vols. He was a part of his childhood dream program for nine seasons.

Sure, it wasn’t always glamorous. Paying to overnight a glove left in Knoxville the day before the College World Series began – well that wasn’t in the job description. Nor was rushing back to the team hotel to retrieve a forgotten game jersey just minutes before first pitch at Vanderbilt.

But it was a dream job nonetheless.

“It was home and a dream job working with baseball. I didn’t want to do the coaching and all the recruiting stuff, but I wanted to help the program any way I could,” Zurcher concluded. “Just wanted to give everything I had for Tennessee because I grew up as a fan, even though I went to Memphis, just based on how things worked out. Just being a fan, being a part of the program and help getting it to where it belongs. Danny White – all the credit for everything that’s changed since they got here.

“We hoped to make it to Hoover years ago and now it’s Omaha or bust. To bring a national title home, don’t have to say it feels like ’98 anymore. It feels like ’24.”

Tennessee will replace Zurcher’s role left behind with someone capable. They will do a great job. It shouldn’t go unnoticed, however, the positive impact Zurcher has left on this program – a program that just won the national championship.