Tennessee baseball coach gets record money in huge new contract
Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello disputes a call at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, June 4, 2021. Kns Vols Regional Opener
Tennessee has backed up the Brinks truck for their championship-winning baseball coach Tony Vitello.
After leading the Volunteers to a historic run toward a national title, Vitello was rewarded with a contract befitting his achievements.
Tennessee agreed to sign the 45-year-old coach to a five-year contract worth upwards of $15 million. The deal instantly made Vitello the highest-paid NCAA baseball coach by a landslide with a $3 million annual salary. Vitello also received a $250,000 signing bonus.
The other incredible aspect of this new deal is that Tony Vitello will earn $3 million annually. He will be, by far, the highest paid coach in @NCAABaseball.
Well deserved. https://t.co/qYh6Qqj7Cr
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) August 23, 2024
In June, Tennessee beat Texas A&M 6-5 to score the school’s first College World Series title in program history.
Vitello led the Vols to a 50-11 regular season record — the only team to breach the 50-win plateau last season. They continued their dominance in the postseason with a 10-2 run, making them the first team since Wichita State in 1989 to tally 60 wins in a single campaign.
Given the hero’s welcome Vitello received from Knoxville during Tennessee’s championship parade a few weeks ago, Volunteers supporters probably aren’t opposed to the coach’s new megadeal.
