Fresh off winning the 2024 College Baseball World Series, Tony Vitello has inked a new deal with the University of Tennessee. A three time National Coach of the Year winner, Vitello will now be the highest paid coach in the country. His current contract was set to run out in June 2026, so the new extension will now last through 2029.
Tony Vitello Inks New Deal With Tennessee
Undoubtedly the most successful baseball coach in Tennessee history, Tony Vitello has become the face of college baseball. The new contract extension is worth $3 million over the next five seasons, and includes a $250 thousand signing bonus. It will also retroactively replace the $140 thousand bonus he received for winning the national title with a $200 thousand bonus.
The extension also includes big payouts from both sides if he either leaves or is fired. If he is relieved of his duties, Tennessee owes Vitello the full amount of the contract. If he leaves, Vitello would owe the university the following:
$4 million before June 30, 2025
$3 million before June 30, 2026
$2 million before June 30, 2027
$800 thousand before June 30, 2028
$400 thousand before June 30, 2029
Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White and Vitello had been working on an extension since the beginning of the year and had most of the new contract worked out before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Even though Texas A&M among others made huge offers to him, Vitello chose to stay in Knoxville. With renovations to Lindsey Nelson Stadium set to be completed in 2026, Tony Vitello has built Tennessee into the national power.
Vitello Is The Face of College Baseball
Since his arrival in Knoxville in 2017, Vitello has helped bring college baseball into the national spotlight. He has led his Tennessee program to three College World Series appearances in the last four years, including the 2024 National Championship. Over that time, Tennessee leads the nation with 211 wins, 25 NCAA Tournament wins, and 566 home runs.
Vitello began his historic run at Tennessee with his first College World Series appearance in 2021. In 2022, Tennessee had arguably the best team in college baseball history, but failed to make the CWS. That season was Tennessee’s first number one overall seed in school history. Followed up with two straight CWS appearances and another number one overall national seed, Vitello has cemented himself as the face of college baseball.
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