Fansided

Tennessee baseball fans react to Tony Vitello receiving massive contract extension

By Ethan Lee

Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello eyes the game at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, June 5, 2021.Kns Vols Regional Liberty
Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello eyes the game at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, June 5, 2021.Kns Vols Regional Liberty /
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The Tennessee Vols have rewarded Tony Vitello for an incredible season by handing him a massive contract extension and a pretty nice raise.

After an incredible run to the College World Series, the Tennessee Vols were able to give their head coach a well-earned contract extension and raise. It was previously reported that Tony Vitello would be getting a pretty nice payday and it seems like the Vols are very happy with his performance in leading their team.

Vitello and the Vols won 50 games this past season and made a ton of noise in the SEC. Tennessee was an impressive team all year and was able to make a thrilling trip to Omaha where the Vols ended the year.

Because of Tennessee’s success, Vitello is now a very rich man. According to a report from Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Vitello is now set to make $1.5 million a year after guiding the Vols through one of their best seasons ever.

Vitello hasn’t been in Knoxville for very long, but he’s already turned the Vols into a team that most won’t want to face.

He’s only led Tennessee for a handful of seasons, but the 42-year-old head coach has compiled a record of 134-68. It makes sense why the Volunteers would want to keep Vitello for as long as possible.

A nice payday certainly can’t hurt those efforts.

Tennessee baseball fans react to Tony Vitello extension

Of course, as with any young, successful coach at a team that historically not great, more prominent programs appeared to be very interested in Vitello. But he’s still in Knoxville, he’s making a lot of money, and he’s primed to continue building the Tennessee baseball program.

https://twitter.com/theC_Breezy94/status/1415060731192647680

Fans of the Vols certainly have right in the world to celebrate that. Historically, Tennessee fans haven’t had much to celebrate when it comes to college baseball. The Vols haven’t thrived in this sport the way they have in some others.

But, Vitello is working on changing that. It’ll be fascinating to see just how good this program gets with him at the helm.

The more traditional powers in the SEC like Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Arkansas will need to keep an eye on what’s happening in Knoxville.